Top 5 Priority & Delegation Tips Every Nurse Should Know
By RN Hive — Study Smarter. Pass Faster. Thrive Longer.
You walk into shift change — five patients, two new admits, and a call light already flashing. The NCLEX loves that moment as much as real life does. Prioritization and delegation aren’t just test skills — they’re nursing survival skills.
1) ABCs First — Airway, Breathing, Circulation
When in doubt, start with the basics. If airway or breathing is compromised, that patient goes first — every time. Circulation and perfusion follow close behind.
2) Safety Before Comfort (and Maslow Helps)
Two answers can be “right,” but only one prevents harm. Choose actions that reduce risk before comfort measures. Use Maslow: physiological needs and safety come before psychosocial concerns.
- Check oxygenation or bleeding risk before addressing pain or teaching.
- Secure safety (e.g., fall risk) before routine care.
3) Delegate Wisely — Match Task to Role
Know who does what to keep patients safe:
- RN: Initial assessment, teaching, evaluation, unstable/complex patients, triage, care planning, clinical judgment.
- LPN/VN: Sterile/clean procedures on stable patients, routine meds, reinforcement of teaching, data collection (not initial assessment).
- UAP/NAP: ADLs, routine vitals on stable patients, hygiene, transport, I&O, positioning — no assessment, teaching, or evaluation.
If assessment or judgment is required, it stays with the RN.
4) Unstable, New, or Changing = RN Priority
See first: new post-op changes, acute chest pain, new neuro deficits, respiratory distress, or any sudden deterioration. Stable, predictable conditions can be delegated with clear instructions.
5) Reassess After Delegating — Leadership in Action
Delegation isn’t “off-loading.” It’s leadership. After delegating, the RN must:
- Supervise — was the task performed as instructed?
- Evaluate — what is the patient’s response/outcome?
- Support — clarify, correct, and coach as needed.
Sisterly Advice™
Learning to prioritize takes time. Don’t chase perfection — chase safety. Every great nurse you admire once had to pause, think, and choose. That pause isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.
Trust your training, protect the airway, and keep judgment-required tasks with the RN. When you lead with safety, confidence follows.
Final Thought
Safe nursing isn’t doing everything — it’s doing the right thing first. Choose safety, prioritize clearly, and delegate with intention.
“Prioritization is calm leadership in action.”
Next up: Managing Test Anxiety Like a Leader — practical tools to stay steady before and during the exam.
