Reference — NCLEX Success
Delegation Principles
Delegation is one of the highest-frequency NCLEX topic areas. It tests your understanding of scope of practice, patient safety, and the five rights of delegation — and its correct application is essential to both passing the NCLEX and safe clinical practice.
Educational use only. Scope of practice is defined by state nurse practice acts and varies by jurisdiction. Facility policies further define what specific roles may or may not do. These principles reflect general NCSBN and ANA delegation standards for NCLEX purposes. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
Five Rights of Delegation
| Right | Key Question | Failure Example |
|---|---|---|
| Right Task | Is this task appropriate to delegate? (routine, predictable, safe for delegation) | Delegating initial assessment to LPN — assessment cannot be delegated |
| Right Circumstance | Is the patient stable enough for this task to be delegated? | Delegating vital signs to UAP for a patient with sepsis — too unstable |
| Right Person | Does this specific person have the training and competency for this task? | Assuming a UAP can do blood glucose checks without verifying facility training |
| Right Direction | Have you given clear, specific instructions including what to report? | Telling UAP to “take vitals” without specifying which parameters to report immediately |
| Right Supervision | Are you accessible and monitoring for outcomes? | Delegating and then leaving the floor without maintaining oversight |
RN Scope — Tasks That Cannot Be Delegated
These require professional nursing judgment — RN only:
LPN/LVN Scope — Stable Patients Only
| Task Category | LPN/LVN Can Do | Requires RN |
|---|---|---|
| Medications | Oral, IM, SQ, topical, ophthalmic — stable patients | IV push, blood products, high-alert titrated drips |
| Assessment | Ongoing data collection; observing and reporting | Initial assessment; interpreting findings clinically |
| Wound care | Routine dressing changes, simple wound irrigation | Wound assessment, complex wound decisions |
| Teaching | Reinforcing previously taught content | Initial teaching, complex discharge education |
| Procedures | Catheter insertion (stable), NGT maintenance, enemas | Central line, chest tube management, complex procedures |
UAP Scope — Routine, Stable Tasks Only
UAPs (CNAs, nursing assistants, patient care techs) perform routine tasks with predictable outcomes for stable patients. They cannot perform any task requiring clinical judgment.
UAP Can Perform
- ✓Vital signs — stable patients
- ✓Bathing, oral hygiene, grooming
- ✓Positioning and skin checks
- ✓Ambulation — stable patients
- ✓Feeding (non-aspiration risk)
- ✓I&O measurement
- ✓Specimen collection (urine, stool)
- ✓Bed making and environmental care
UAP Cannot Perform
- ✗Medication administration (any)
- ✗Assessment or clinical interpretation
- ✗IV line care
- ✗Complex wound care
- ✗Patient/family teaching
- ✗Tracheostomy suctioning
- ✗Care for unstable patients
- ✗Any procedure requiring licensure
Common NCLEX Delegation Scenarios
| Scenario | Answer | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Which patient can the RN delegate to the UAP? | Stable patient with CHF needing morning bath | Routine ADL, stable patient, no clinical judgment required |
| RN is busy — who can give the patient their oral metoprolol? | LPN/LVN for a stable patient | Oral medication administration is within LPN/LVN scope for stable patients |
| UAP reports a patient's BP is 88/50. What should the UAP do? | Report to RN immediately — do not intervene | UAPs collect data and report — clinical interpretation and action are RN responsibilities |
| Newly admitted patient — which team member should perform initial assessment? | RN only — cannot be delegated | Initial nursing assessment requires professional judgment — always RN |
| LPN asks to teach post-op patient about wound care | LPN can reinforce previously taught content; initial teaching = RN | Initial education requires RN assessment of readiness to learn and individualized planning |
NCLEX Pearls
- ✦Delegation does not remove RN accountability — the RN is always responsible for patient outcomes.
- ✦Never delegate assessment, teaching, evaluation, or care planning — these require professional nursing judgment.
- ✦The five rights of delegation: task, circumstance, person, direction, and supervision.
- ✦Unstable, newly admitted, post-procedure, and complex patients cannot be delegated to LPN/LVN or UAP.
- ✦LPN/LVNs can give oral medications to stable patients, reinforce teaching, and collect data — not initial assessment.
- ✦UAPs can only perform routine tasks with predictable outcomes for stable patients — never clinical interpretation.
- ✦Scope varies by state nurse practice act — Foley insertion and receiving verbal orders fall within LPN/LVN scope in some states but not others, and UAPs may perform non-sterile (not sterile) wound care only where facility policy permits. Always verify state and facility rules.
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with NCSBN — NCLEX-RN Test Plan · Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM). It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →