In the HESI PDA, accountability?

• A. The nurse remains accountable for patient outcomes even when delegating tasks to others.
• B. Accountability is transferred to the delegate.
• C. Accountability is only for documentation.
• D. Accountability does not apply to assistants.

Answer: (A)

In delegation, the nurse remains accountable for patient outcomes even when assigning tasks to others. Accountability means you’re answerable for the overall care and safety of the patient, not just the actions you perform directly. When you delegate, you’re still responsible for ensuring the task fits the delegate’s scope and competence, providing clear instructions, supervising, and evaluating the results. If outcomes are not met, the nurse bears the responsibility, even though the delegate carried out the task.

The delegate is responsible for performing the assigned tasks correctly within their scope, but that does not relieve the nurse of accountability for the patient’s outcome. Accountability is not limited to documentation, and it does apply to assistants as part of the care team.