Implications
An evidence-based approach is needed to address concerns regarding delegation and missed care in nursing practice. The potential negative patient, staff, and financial outcomes of ineffective delegation processes and care omissions should be a call to action for nurse executives. If concern for patient safety and publicly reported nurse-sensitive outcomes are not enough to stimulate the change needed in the acute-care environment, then financial outcomes should. The estimated annual loss of 1 million dollars on nonvalue-added tasks that continue to keep nurses away from the bedside must be addressed.6 Additionally, high turnover rates for newly licensed nurses and their impatience with inefficient and ineffective
systems should compel nurse leaders to act.
If a culture of safety is to be achieved, an honest assessment and analysis of the care delivery model and microsystem work structures and processes are essential. Nurse practice leaders must focus their efforts on improving the care environment. Magnet hospitals are the best model for building a strong, positive work environment that supports professional nursing practice. Transforming Care at the Bedside model engages frontline nurses in redesigning ineffective structures and processes to enhance patient safety. Registered nurses’ decision-making authority to temporarily halt unit admissions when patient acuity rises is a strategy that would address a top reason for missed care found in this study. Another innovative problem-solving strategy could focus on the RN-NA microsystem, specifically assignment planning, communication, and supervision. One RN-NA team could conduct a small test of change with 1 group of patients, for 1 shift, during hourly rounding,to uncover ineffective delegation practices that could lead to care omissions.