Before delegating tasks to nursing assistive personnel (NAP), the nurse must be familiar with what?

Being familiar with the NAP's knowledge, skills, and experience is essential for effective delegation. This ensures that the tasks assigned are appropriate for the NAP's competencies and that they can perform the duties safely and effectively. Understanding the capabilities of the nursing assistive personnel allows the nurse to match tasks with individuals who have the appropriate training and experience, thereby enhancing patient safety and care quality.

In a clinical setting, delegating tasks that exceed the NAP's skill set can lead to poor patient outcomes and put both the patient and the healthcare team at risk. Therefore, assessing the NAP's abilities is a fundamental step in the delegation process to ensure that responsibilities are appropriately distributed and that patient needs are met in a safe manner.