Factors affecting the delegation of tasks by the registered nurse to patient care assistants in acute care settings. A selective review of the literature.

Nursing shortages and issues of fiscal accountability have compelled nurse executives to restructure nurses' work. Because proficiency in delegation is central to the success of redesigned patient-focused models of nursing care, nurses must change their behavior and delegate to perform more effectively. Using Lewin's field theory of change, the authors examined the delegation of tasks by registered nurses in acute care settings. A comprehensive review of the literature suggests that factors related to successful delegation have not been examined systematically. In this article, the authors provide information for use in future research on delegation.