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Assigning, Supervising or Teaching an Activity
What is the difference between assigning, supervising or teaching an activity?
A nurse who assigns, supervises or teaches an activity has a unique role in the health care team. They are accountable for determining that the person who is being assigned, supervised or taught is competent to provide that care and manage outcomes. The nurse’s priority is to ensure that the client receives safe and ethical care.
Assigning an activity
Assigning is determining and allocating responsibility for a particular aspect of care to another individual, this includes assigning both controlled and non-controlled activities. Assigning care may require nurses to supervise aspects of care or teach activities. Depending on the responsibilities of their positions, RNs, RPNs and NPs with the necessary knowledge, skill and judgment may assign care to other nurses or UCPs. For example, assigning G-tube feeds or assigning medications that are non-controlled acts to UCPs in Long-Term Care Settings.
Supervising an activity
Supervising is monitoring and directing specific activities of others for a defined period. RNs, RPNs and NPs may supervise others based on the responsibilities of their positions. This role includes providing the appropriate degree of either direct or indirect supervision to the individual being supervised. It is based on the client’s condition, the nature of the procedure(s), the resources available in the setting and the degree of competence of the person being supervised. Employers are encouraged to develop policies that outline the requirements for supervision in their setting.
Teaching an activity
Teaching is providing instruction, determining that a person is competent to perform an activity and evaluating the learning. Teaching is not equivalent to delegation because it does not involve the transfer of authority to perform a controlled act.
In each situation, it is up to the employer to determine the requirements of nurses when assigning, supervising or teaching a procedure, including having clear policies and guidelines that align with the standards of practice and safe client care.
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