Which describes delegation criteria?

• A. Daily care
• B. Step sequence
• C. Daily care, step sequence, predictable, not dangerous
• D. Nursing process tasks

Answer: (C)

Delegation criteria describe which tasks can be assigned to unlicensed assistive personnel. The best choice captures all the essential safeguards: daily care tasks that are routine, performed in a clear step-by-step sequence, and have predictable outcomes without being dangerous if performed incorrectly. When a task meets these conditions, a licensed nurse can delegate it with appropriate supervision, since it does not require nursing assessment, diagnosis, or clinical judgment.

Daily care by itself is often routine, but without noting the step-by-step sequence and the safety of predictability, it might still carry variability. Step sequence ensures the task is performed consistently every time, reducing errors. Predictable outcomes provide a safety check that the result will be standard and expected. Declaring a task as not dangerous reinforces that there’s minimal risk if performed according to the protocol.

Nursing process tasks—those requiring assessment, interpretation, planning, and evaluation—cannot be delegated, because they rely on professional nursing judgment.