Influence in the delegation of functions of nursing practice

Abstract

Nursing is dynamic and must develop knowledge through precise technological advances to meet current health needs, in search of a better quality in the provision of the service. Performance functions and their delegation of nursing care to the personnel in charge is a fundamental tool in clinical practice; it is a possible way out to speed up, in some situations, the provision of nursing care services to the subject of care. The delegation of functions is considered as an action that, if not carried out based on the principles and values ​​of professional ethics, can cause ethical problems, risks that could compromise the life and dignity of the patients of care.

Peplau's work is geared specifically towards the relationship between nurses and patients and is a theory for nursing practice. It is necessary to remember that the theories fulfill the function of explaining, describing and predicting the practice. The present article has the objective of describing the influence in the delegation of functions of nursing practice from the theories of Florence Nightingale and Hildegard E. Peplau. A literature review of 50 studies related to influencing factors was carried out with the delegation of the nursing professional between 2012 and 2018. The influence in the delegation of functions of nursing practice is due to functions such as: work overload; high number of patients, most of high complexity, low patient nurse ratio and lack of professionals for quality care and simultaneous fulfillment of administrative functions. Such conditions cause a low quality in the delegation of functions that affect, in turn, the care and nursing care provided to patients, leaving aside the professional nature of nursing.