Prioritization and Delegation

Nursing care prioritization is based on

Overall picture, the client as a whole person, and availability of time and resources

Nursing prioritization is asking how long

The care will acquire

Seeing the ___, not the ___

Forest, tree

Prioritization is defined as

Deciding which needs or problems require immediate action and which ones could be delayed until a later time because they are not urgent

What are the 4 P’s

• Purpose of care

• Current clinical Picture

• Picture of the outcome or result

• Part played by each team member

Nurses prioritize by ___ and ___

ABCs, patient safety

The RN must decide the priorities of care by using

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs​

• ABC’s​

• Emergent/Urgent/Non-urgent​

• Acute vs. Chronic​

• Client (and nurse) safety is always a priority!​

• Pain is not the highest priority unless it deals with ABC’s (for instance chest pain)​

___is not a ___ unless it is related to ___

Pain, priority, ABC

When prioritizing, think…

Is it life threating or can it wait a while

Questions to ask when prioritizing

• Is the task or process life threatening ​

  or potentially life threatening if not completed?​

• Would another client be endangered if the task is left for later

• Is the task or process essential to client or staff safety?​

• Is the task or process essential to the client’s plan of care?​

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Self-Actualization​

• Self-Confidence, Achievement, Self- Worth​

• Love & Belonging, Friendship, Love, Social Relationships​

• Safety & Security Needs​

• Air, Water, Food​

What is the order of setting priorities (3)

ABCs, vital signs, and threatening lab values (sodium and potassium)

Change in ___ is the 1st common sign of ___ in ___ patients

Mental status, hypoxia, elderly

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