There is a temporary agency registered nurse assigned to the nursing unit. You have no knowledge of this nurse's skills, and you want to assign the nurse to a patient who has a fresh tracheostomy. How should you handle this situation?
a. Assign the nurse to the patient with the tracheostomy and hope for the best.
b. Ask the nurse about his or her competency to care for the patient with the tracheos-tomy.
c. Assign the patient to another nurse and use the temporary agency nurse to do simple care tasks.
d. Call the agency and ask for a nurse skilled in the care of a patient with a tracheosto-my.
B
Float and temporary nurses should be asked about their competency at the beginning of a shift or assignment. Never assume that an individual knows something; be sure and ask. Delegation of an activity should always be followed by an anticipated response from that nurse as to whether or not he or she feels capable of performing the task. It is important to determine the competency of the nurse as well as to make sure the nurse indicates he or she is competent to carry out the dele-gated activity. It would be appropriate to check on this nurse frequently to evaluate their delivery of care or to offer assistance. It would be okay to call the agency and verify the nurse's skilled competencies, but talking with the nurse would still be the first action.
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