Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment in Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions – NCLEX MCQ Questions

Prioritization – In nursing, prioritization means deciding which patient needs care first, based on urgency, severity, and risk, like using Maslow’s hierarchy, ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), or safety/stability rules. Nurses must quickly identify who is critical, who can wait, and what interventions can prevent harm, then act in order.

Delegation – Delegation is when a nurse assigns a task to another staff member (like LPN/LVN or CNA) who is qualified to perform it, but the nurse still remains responsible for the patient outcome. Example: a CNA can measure vitals, but the nurse must interpret them and decide action.

Assignment – Assignment is giving responsibility for patient care to another licensed nurse for a shift or period. This is different from delegation because it involves full accountability for care during that time. Example: RN assigns another RN to care for a group of patients during her shift.

NCLEX Practice Questions – These questions test nurses on scenarios to apply prioritization, delegation, and assignment rules. They often ask:

• Which patient to see first?

• Which tasks can be delegated?

• Who can safely be assigned specific patients?