Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What does the term "Delegate" most nearly mean?

1. Assign

2. Oversee

3. Decide

4. Collaborate

The correct answer is: Assign

The term "delegate" primarily means to assign responsibilities or tasks to another person or group. In many professional and educational contexts, particularly in nursing, delegation involves entrusting specific duties or responsibilities to someone else while maintaining accountability for the overall outcome. When a nurse delegates tasks, they ensure that the person receiving the assignment has the skills and competencies needed to perform the task effectively. Understanding delegation is crucial because it allows for efficient use of time and resources, enabling professionals to focus on more complex responsibilities. While overseeing another's work can be necessary after delegating tasks, the core action depicted by the word "delegate" is centered around the act of assigning those tasks, making "assign" the most accurate synonym in this context.