Medical practitioners are tasked with the arduous task of securing human health. In the US and other parts of the globe, healthcare providers are grappling with severe staff shortages which make it difficult for them to execute their mandate. Such practitioners as physicians bear the brunt of the staff shortages. Fortunately, there are some measures that these practitioners can adopt to limit their burden. Delegation is among these measures. However, as they delegate, the practitioners should comply with the guidelines developed by the authorities in such states as Georgia.
Georgia Delegation Guidelines
Across the US, states are adopting strategies aimed at protecting patients and securing the integrity of the medical professional. Georgia is among these states. As part of its efforts to ensure accountability, Georgia has developed and enforces a set of guidelines. Among the provisions of these guidelines is that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are not to perform any delegated duties unless there is a physician present to supervise the nurse (Stephens, 2015). However, the guidelines allow physicians to delegate some of their duties without necessarily being present to conduct supervision. To delegate, the physician is required to provide a protocol agreement (Stephens, 2015). This agreement is essentially a simple document that authorizes the nurse to perform the delegated duties and stipulates the specific tasks that they are to perform. The main insight to be gained from these guidelines is that Georgia is committed to ensuring that practitioners exercise accountability at all times and that they strive to safeguard the wellbeing of their patients.
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From the discussion this far, it is evident that delegation is indeed vital. In addition to helping to relieve physicians of heavy workloads, delegation also plays a vital role in enhancing the competence of nurses by exposing them to complex challenges and opportunities for learning (Weydt, 2010). In recognition of the importance of delegation, Georgia’s guidelines empower physicians to scrutinize the work of nurses to whom they have delegated responsibilities and tasks (Stephens, 2015). The scrutiny is intended to ensure compliance with established standards and to create a culture of accountability. Furthermore, the guidelines stipulate that physicians should not delegate their duties to more than four APRNs. This provision is clearly designed to prevent laziness among physicians and protect nurses against unfair physician conduct. The delegation guidelines in Georgia also limit the type of drugs that nurses to whom duties are delegated can prescribe. In this state, it is only physicians who have the authority to prescribe Schedule II medications and this authority cannot be passed down to nurses (Stephens, 2015). Overall, Georgia’s delegation guidelines aim to empower nurses while protecting patients.
Overcoming Barriers
When delegating, physicians and nursing practitioners face legal risks and other barriers which could negatively affect patient outcomes. For example, they may delegate the wrong tasks or fail to communicate effectively. Fortunately, there are a number of strategies that have been shown to be effective in helping the practitioners to overcome these barriers. One of these strategies involves the use of checklists (Shannon & Kubelka, 2013). Essentially, the checklists stipulate the procedure that the practitioners should follow. Thanks to these checklists, practitioners are able to confirm that they have followed all steps and complied with all applicable laws, guidelines and policies. Another effective strategy is consulting relevant guidelines and policies (ANA, 2012). As noted above, the state of Georgia has a set of guidelines that nurses and other practitioners need to adhere to. By consulting these guidelines, the practitioners ensure that their manner of delegating is in line with the guidelines. Development of the required skills and knowledge through education and training is yet another strategy (Weydt, 2010). It is crucial for practitioners to embrace education through which they are introduced to how to effectively and properly delegate.
In closing, delegation is an essential process in medical practice. It enables practitioners to build the competencies of their juniors. However, when not performed properly, delegation can hurt patients. It is therefore important for practitioners to follow laid down procedures and guidelines. Such states as Georgia are enforcing helpful and clear guidelines. If they wish to avoid legal liabilities, practitioners should comply with these guidelines. They should also understand the importance of accountability and embrace education.
References
American Nurses Association (ANA). (2012). ANA’s principles for delegation. ANA. Retrieved July 15, 2019 from https://www.nursingworld.org/~4af4f2/globalassets/docs/ana/ethics/principlesofdelegation.pdf
Shannon, R. A., & Kubelka, S. (2013). Reducing the risks of delegation: use of procedure skills checklists for unlicensed assistive personnel in schools, Part 1. NASN School Nurse, 28 (4), 178-81.
Stephens, B. (2015). Perspectives on advanced practice registered nursing in Georgia. Georgia Health Foundation. Retrieved July 15, 2019 from http://www.hpm.umn.edu/nhregsplus/NHRegs_by_State/Georgia/georgia_rules_and_regulations_complete_04.06.07.pdf
Weydt, A. (2010). Developing delegation skills. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Retrieved July 15, 2019 from http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol152010/No2May2010/Delegation-Skills.aspx
