1
What is prioritization in nursing?
Determining which patient needs or tasks require immediate attention
2
What is delegation in nursing?
Assigning tasks to other qualified healthcare team members while retaining accountability
3
What framework is commonly used to prioritize patient needs?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
4
According to Maslow, which needs are prioritized first?
Physiological needs, such as airway, breathing, and circulation
5
What does the "ABC" mnemonic stand for in prioritization?
Airway, Breathing, Circulation
6
Which patient should a nurse assess first: stable or unstable?
The unstable patient
7
What is the "five rights of delegation"?
Right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision
8
Can a registered nurse (RN) delegate assessment tasks to a nursing assistant?
No, assessment requires nursing judgment and cannot be delegated
9
What tasks can typically be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
Routine, stable, and non-judgment-based tasks like bathing or vital signs
10
What is the nursing process order used for prioritization?
Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation (ADPIE)
11
When multiple patients need attention, which is prioritized: acute or chronic condition change?
Acute changes typically take priority
12
What does "first, do no harm" reflect in prioritization?
The ethical principle of avoiding actions that could cause patient harm
13
What is triage?
The process of ranking patients by the severity of their condition to determine treatment order
14
In an emergency, which patient is prioritized: someone with chest pain or a stable post-op patient?
The patient with chest pain
15
What is the nursing chain of command?
The hierarchical reporting structure used to escalate concerns or decisions
16
What must a nurse verify before delegating a task?
The delegatee's competency and scope of practice
17
Who retains ultimate accountability when a task is delegated?
The delegating nurse
18
What is scope of practice?
The legally defined range of tasks and responsibilities a healthcare professional is permitted to perform
19
What should a nurse do if asked to delegate outside a person's scope of practice?
Refuse and reassign the task appropriately
20
What is the difference between delegation and assignment?
Delegation transfers a task to someone with a different scope; assignment distributes tasks within the same scope
21
Which task should never be delegated to a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
Initial patient assessments or care plan development
22
What does "stable but unmonitored" versus "unstable" prioritization mean?
Unstable patients requiring immediate intervention take priority over stable patients
23
What is the SBAR communication tool used for?
Structuring communication as Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
24
When assigning patients, what should be matched to the nurse?
The nurse's skill level and competency to the complexity of patient needs
25
What is the "most unstable, most complex" prioritization principle?
Patients with the most severe, changing conditions should be assessed and treated first
26
What is an example of appropriate UAP delegation?
Taking routine vital signs on a stable patient
27
What is supervision in the context of delegation?
Overseeing and providing guidance to ensure delegated tasks are performed correctly
28
Why is prioritization heavily tested on the NCLEX?
Because nurses must make rapid, safe decisions when managing multiple patients
29
What ethical principle underlies triage decisions?
Beneficence — acting in the best interest of patients overall
30
What should a nurse do if unsure whether a task can be delegated?
Consult facility policy or supervising staff before delegating
