Nurse Delegation and Scope of Practice | Texas Health and Human Services

Many nurses find delegation to be a perplexing concept with multiple nuances. Please find below a collection of easily accessible resources and information that will provide guidance for delegation in a variety of settings and improve understanding about the delegation process for those nurses who choose to delegate. Resources provided include position statements, printable flow sheets, decision trees and posters, as well as frequently asked questions and answers provided by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Links to tools and information are available on this site.

Resources Created by HHSC

Delegation Don’ts (PDF) – Tasks prohibited from RN delegation in Independent Living Environments for clients with stable and predictable conditions
Delegation Principles (PDF) – the “Five Rights of Delegation” that delineate accountability for professional nurses at all levels
Texas Board of Nursing Scope of Practice Decision-Making Model (PDF) – This poster was developed to assist nurses in determining whether an activity or intervention is in their scope of practice.
Rule 224 (PDF) – RN delegation of nursing tasks to Unlicensed Personnel for clients with acute conditions or in Acute Care Environments
Rule 225 (PDF) – RN delegation to Unlicensed Personnel and tasks not requiring delegation in Independent Living Environments for clients with stable and predictable condition
Scope of Practice (PDF) – Differentiating RN from LVN Scope of Practice under Rule 217.11 Standards of Nursing Practice
Duty of a Nurse in any Practice Setting summarizes the Texas Board of Nursing’s Position Statement 15.14. (PDF)

Resources from Other Organizations

Position Statement on Delegation from Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association is a delegation statement for nurses whose primary practice is with individuals with disabilities.
Texas Board of Nursing Delegation Resource Packet was created to afford RNs clearer direction for delegation in a variety of settings thereby improving the delegation process.