Category 1 · 15–21% of the exam
Management of Care
How you prioritize care, delegate tasks, communicate, and protect patients.
Client need · Safe and Effective Care Environment
Providing and directing nursing care that enhances the care delivery setting to protect clients and health care personnel.
Learning objectives
- ✓Prioritize clients using ABCs, Maslow, and stable vs. unstable
- ✓Delegate and assign tasks within RN, LPN, and UAP scope
- ✓Apply legal and ethical principles: consent, confidentiality, advocacy
- ✓Coordinate care through referrals, handoff, and discharge planning
3-day lesson plan
Day 1
Learn
Read the checklist and delegation table. Make flashcards for scope of practice.
Day 2
Apply
Practice 'who do you see first' and delegation questions. Explain each answer out loud.
Day 3
Check
Take the category quiz. Review every rationale and redo any missed items.
Study checklist
Who does what
| Role | General responsibility |
|---|---|
| RN | Initial comprehensive assessment, nursing care planning, evaluation, unstable patients |
| LPN | Care for appropriate stable patients, focused data collection, medications and treatments within scope |
| UAP/CNA | Routine tasks such as bathing, feeding appropriate patients, vital signs on stable patients |
Test plan related content
Content areas NCSBN lists for this category.
Advance directives / self-determination / life planningAdvocacyAssignment, delegation and supervisionCase managementClient rightsCollaboration with interdisciplinary teamConcepts of managementConfidentiality / information securityContinuity of careEstablishing prioritiesEthical practiceInformed consentInformation technologyLegal rights and responsibilitiesPerformance improvement (quality improvement)Referrals
Must know
- ●Delegation rules vary by state law and facility policy.
- ●The RN retains accountability for appropriate delegation and supervision.
NCLEX tip
If a patient has a new, unexpected change in condition, do not delegate the assessment to a UAP.