What outcome should a nurse prioritize when delegating tasks?

When delegating tasks, the primary outcome a nurse should prioritize is enhanced patient care and safety. This focus ensures that patients receive the highest quality of care possible while also maintaining their safety during treatment and nursing interventions. Delegation in nursing involves assigning responsibilities to team members, which should always be done with the intention of benefiting patient outcomes. By emphasizing patient care and safety, the nurse can ensure that tasks are delegated to appropriately trained staff members who can effectively carry them out, allowing for a more efficient workflow that ultimately leads to better health results for patients.

Prioritizing patient care over other factors, like workload or task completion, aligns with the core nursing principle of putting the patient's needs first. While a nurse might be tempted to consider personal workload or simply finishing tasks, these factors should never overshadow the fundamental goal of maintaining and improving patient safety and care standards.