.12 Criteria for Delegation.

A. The nurse may delegate the responsibility to perform a dialysis-related nursing task to a certified dialysis technician. The delegating nurse retains the accountability for the dialysis-related nursing task.

B. A dialysis-related nursing task delegated by the nurse shall be:

(1) Within the area of responsibility of the nurse delegating the act;

(2) Such that, in the judgment of the nurse, it can be properly and safely performed by the certified dialysis technician without jeopardizing patient welfare; and

(3) A task that a reasonable and prudent nurse would find is within the scope of sound nursing judgment.

C. A dialysis-related nursing task delegated by the nurse may not require the certified dialysis technician to exercise nursing judgment or intervention except in an emergency situation.

D. When delegating a dialysis-related nursing task to a certified dialysis technician, the nurse shall:

(1) Make an assessment of the patient's nursing care needs related to the delegated task;

(2) Either instruct the certified dialysis technician in the delegated task or verify the certified dialysis technician's competency to perform the nursing task;

(3) Supervise the performance of the delegated nursing task in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter;

(4) Be accountable and responsible for the delegated task;

(5) Evaluate the performance of the delegated nursing task; and

(6) Be responsible for ensuring accurate documentation of outcomes on the medical record.

E. The nurse shall be the primary decision maker when delegating a dialysis-related nursing task to a certified dialysis technician. Nursing judgment shall be exercised within the context of the employer’s model of nursing practice which includes a mechanism for:

(1) Identifying those individuals to whom nursing tasks may be delegated;

(2) Reevaluation of the competency of those to whom nursing tasks may be delegated;

(3) Recognizing that the final decision regarding delegation is within the scope of the nurse's professional judgment;

(4) Determining the competency of the nurse to delegate; and

(5) Determining to whom nursing tasks may be delegated, which includes input by nurses employed in the structured setting.