After graduation, you have received your temporary RN registration and are working in a long-term care home. You have several patients that require the use of a mechanical lift to transfer to their wheelchairs. The PSWs on the floor are familiar with the lift however today there was a new PSW on the unit and she will need teaching around this for her first patient. Are you able to delegate this task to the PSW? Y/N and why?
No, someone in the temporary class is not able to delegate any tasks. This requires practicing under the general class
No I will not delegate this assignment to the Psw until I am sure she has the skill and knowledge.
No I will not delegate this assignment to the Psw because I am a nurse with a temporary license,.
No I will not delegate this assignment to the Psw because I am a nurse with a temporary license,so I will perform the task .
No, you are not able to delegate tasks until you are fully registered as a Nurse and under a general, extended or emergency class.
No delegation cannot be performed by a Nurse in the temporary class.
No, a nurse holding a temporary class is not allowed to delegate any task
No a nurse under a temporary license is not able to delegate.
A nurse under a temporary licence is not able to delegate.
A nurse is unable to delegate with a temporary license.
I will not delegate, I am a temporary RN but will look for another competent staff to assist me with the task to avoid falls.
I cannot delegate this task to the PSW because I have a temporary license. I will look for another RN and notify them of the situation.
Yes, as an RPN with temporary RN registration, I am able to delegate the task of teaching the new PSW about the use of a mechanical lift for transferring patients to their wheelchair. Delegation involves assigning appropriate tasks to competent individuals within their scope of practice. Since mechanical lift operation falls within the scope of practice of personal support workers (PSWs), and assuming the PSW is competent and familiar with the use of the lift, I can delegate this task to them. However, I must ensure that I provide clear instructions, supervise the task initially to ensure competency, and be available for any questions or assistance the PSW may need during the teaching process.
A nurse is unable to delegate with a temporary license.
Also most agencies, require you to be trained/signed off before using a lift if it has been delegated or not
No delegation cannot be performed by a Nurse in the temporary class.
As having the title of temporary RN in a new organization I can not delegate this task the PSW.
No as a nurse with a temporary licence is unable to delegate any tasks even if the PSW staff are able to trained in the procedure/act.
No, as a nurse with a temporary license, I am unable to delegate tasks. Nurses that are in the general class or extended are allowed to delegate tasks.
No, temporary class nurses do not have the authority to delegate.
The PSW needs to have training on the mechanical lift prior to attempting to transfer any patients, ensuring competency. Additionally, temporary class Registered Nurses cannot delegate tasks.
Hi Nicole,
Yes, the PSW needs to have training on the mechanical lift prior to attempting to transfer any patients, ensuring they are competent in using it safely. The training should be provided by an RN in the General, Extended, or Emergency Assignment Classes who is able to delegate the task appropriately.
Thanks
Rose
A nurse has to consider multiple factors prior to assigning the PSW with the task of teaching the new PSW on the operation of the mechanical lift. The first factor that the nurse needs to consider is; is it appropriate to assign. The second factor is the competency of the PSW being assigned the task, from the nurses personal viewed and known knowledge. The third factor evaluation of the psw’s continuing competency and the supervision of the assigned task. However, the nurse in this situation is of a temporary licensure, which does not allow the nurse to delegate/assign tasks to UCP’s.
Yes, you are able to delegate the task to the PSW, with appropriate supervision and teaching. Delegation is a responsibility of the RN, and while you can delegate, you must ensure that the task is within the PSW’s scope of practice and that they are trained or familiar with the task.
The new PSW needs supervision while she is learning, and you must ensure she understands the proper use of the lift to ensure resident safety and prevent injury.
Yes, I can delegate the task if the PSW is properly trained, competent, and the task falls within her role. Since she is new to the unit, I must provide teaching, supervision, and ensure patient safety. As the RN, I remain accountable for the delegation and must confirm her ability before she performs the task independently.
Yes, but only after ensuring proper training and competence. As an RN with temporary registration, I can delegate the task if the PSW is trained, competent, and follows the home’s policies. Since the new PSW hasn’t used the lift before, I’d need to teach and assess her first to ensure safe patient handling. Safety always comes first!
I cannot delegate this task because I hold a Temporary Class RN designation. According to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) regulations, RNs in the Temporary Class are not permitted to delegate controlled acts to others in Ontario. While using a mechanical lift is not classified as a controlled act, teaching and delegating the task still requires an RN to hold full registration. Since I am in the Temporary Class, I am able to supervise and teach the PSW, but I cannot formally delegate the task; I can also seek assistance from a fully registered RN or RPN for the delegation.
Hello,
No, as a nurse with a temporary RN registration, I am not authorized to delegate tasks. Only nurses in the General, Extended, or Emergency Assignment Classes have the authority to delegate tasks to other healthcare workers, such as PSWs. Nurses in the Temporary and Special Assignment Classes are not permitted to delegate. Therefore, I would need to assign the task of teaching the new PSW how to use the mechanical lift to an RN in the General Class, who can then delegate the task appropriately.
Thanks for reading!
Rose
No, in this situation I cannot delegate the task to the PSW. As an RN in the temporary class are still under supervision and cannot delegate tasks independently. In this scenario the RN expected to work under the direction of a fully registered RN, and delegating tasks to unregulated healthcare providers like PSWs should be done by a fully registered RN who is overseeing the practice.
No, since i confirmed that the PSW does not have the skills to perform the task, it is not safe for the client. I will delegate it to someone who knows how to use the hoyer lift, .
According (CNO), nurses registered in the Temporary Class are not permitted to delegate any controlled or authorized acts to others, nor are they allowed to accept delegation. While teaching a PSW how to use a mechanical lift is not necessarily a controlled act in itself, if the lift use involves any part of a controlled act (such as assisting with mobility where there’s risk of harm), it may fall under delegation. Since Temporary Class RNs are restricted from delegating, even in a teaching context that could involve delegation, it would be outside your scope under the temporary license. A nurse in the General Class should provide this support instead
As a temporarily registered RN working in a long-term care home, I can delegate the task of using a mechanical lift to a PSW, provided certain conditions are met. According to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), delegation involves transferring the authority to perform a controlled act to another individual, while teaching or assigning tasks that are not controlled acts—like using a mechanical lift—is considered part of nursing supervision and not formal delegation. Since transferring a patient using a mechanical lift is not a controlled act, it does not require delegation. However, the nurse is responsible for ensuring that the PSW has received proper instruction, understands how to use the equipment safely, and is competent to perform the transfer without causing harm to the resident. In this scenario, because the PSW is new to the unit and unfamiliar with the lift, I would take the time to teach and supervise her with the first transfer, ensuring she follows proper procedures and safety precautions. Ultimately, as the nurse, I remain accountable for ensuring that care is provided safely and as outlined in the resident’s care plan and the CNO’s practice standards.
No, with temporary class one cannot delegate the task.
no, as a RN working a temporary license is not allowed to delegate task as per the scope of practice
No.
Although using a mechanical lift is not a controlled act (so it is considered assignment, not delegation), I would not assign it in this situation because the PSW is new and not yet trained. According to the College of Nurses of Ontario, I must ensure the person has the knowledge, skill, and judgment to perform the task safely. Also, as a Temporary Class RN, I have limits around independently supervising others, so I would first provide teaching and support or involve an experienced staff member before assigning the task.
No, I cannot delegate controlled or authorized acts or accept delegation. I would ask a General Class RN or appropriate staff to provide the teaching and supervision. My priority would be to ensure patient safety and stay within my scope of practice under the temporary registration.
No.
Even though I have a temporary RN license, I cannot delegate in this situation because delegation requires that the person receiving the task is already competent and trained. According to the College of Nurses of Ontario standards, delegation is only appropriate when it is safe and the PSW has the required knowledge, skill, and judgment.
In this case, the PSW is new to the unit and requires teaching on the mechanical lift, so she is not yet competent. Therefore, I cannot delegate the task at this time.
I cannot delegate this task because I hold a Temporary Class RN designation. According to the College of Nurses of Ontario (College of Nurses of Ontario), nurses in the Temporary Class are not permitted to formally delegate nursing activities to others in Ontario. Although the use of a mechanical lift is not a controlled act, it still requires proper assignment, assessment of competency, and accountability, which must be completed by a fully registered RN or RPN. In this situation, I can provide teaching and supervision to the new PSW to ensure safe use of the mechanical lift, but I would need to collaborate with a fully registered nurse on the unit to complete any formal delegation or assignment decisions while maintaining patient safety.
Even though a nurse holds a temporary license, they can still appoint aspects of care activities to a personal support worker. In this case, the temporary nurse must first determine that the new personal support worker has the knowledge and skills to safely perform the assigned task of transferring patients using a mechanical lift. The temporary nurse would then provide teaching on sling placement and be present to assist with the transfer from bed to wheelchair to ensure that the new PSW has the competency to perform these care tasks with other PSWs. Additionally, the temporary nurse must always make themselves available to assist the new PSW in case they have any concerns or feel they are not yet competent. Ultimately, the temporary nurse is accountable to the College of Nurses for the teaching of the care tasks they assign, and they remain responsible for the safety of the patients in their care.
No, delegation is not required in this situation because using a mechanical lift is not considered a controlled act. However, as the RN, I am responsible for ensuring the PSW has the knowledge and competence to safely perform the transfer before assigning the task.
Since the PSW is new to the unit, appropriate teaching and supervision should be provided to ensure patient and staff safety. The nurse remains accountable for the overall assessment of the patient and for assigning care appropriately.
You cannot safely delegate the mechanical lift transfer to the new PSW at this time because delegation requires that the person receiving the task is already trained, competent, and familiar with the procedure in that setting.
In long-term care, mechanical lift transfers are generally within the PSW role once they have been oriented and deemed competent according to agency policy. However, since this PSW is new to the unit and has not yet demonstrated competency with the lift. This is not safe for the new PSW to use.
According to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), with temporary registration, an individual cannot delegate controlled acts. The use of a mechanical lift does not fall under the indications of a controlled act, therefore I can delegate this task, with conditions. In this specific case, the newly hired PSW is not familiar with the mechanical lift and will require teaching to learn appropriate and safe use of the device. The CNO defines teaching as providing instruction, determining that a person is competent to perform an activity and evaluating the learning. Teaching is not the same as delegation because it does not involve the transfer of authority to perform a controlled act therefore I can safely educate the new PSW on use of the lift. After providing appropriate teaching and assessing the new PSW’s knowledge, skill and judgement, if he/she has met the required expectations, I could then delegate operation of the lift to the new PSW.
No, I cannot delegate this task to the PSW without first ensuring she has been properly instructed and deemed competent because as a temporary RN, I am still responsible for the delegation of controlled acts or specific tasks to unregulated care providers (PSWs). Before delegating the use of a mechanical lift, I must first assess the competency of the PSW given that she is new to the unit and she is not familiar with this patient transfer plan and this specific lift. I would also need to provide the necessary teaching on the use of the equipment, the patient’s needs and safety check and then I will observe her return demonstration.