What is my accountability and what should I consider when providing guidance and direction to unregulated care providers (UCPs)?
You are accountable to develop or contribute to the development of the client’s care plan. This means that you are responsible to set the direction, assign the care or tasks and follow up to make sure they are completed. Consider the needs of the client, the capacity of the care provider, the context, circumstances, and available resources as you do this work. Nurses are responsible to collaborate and use their professional nursing judgment to make decisions in the best interest of clients when providing guidance and direction. The clients care plan should be the guide or the map for UCP practice.
Consider the following if you are working with UCPs;
- Assess clients as needed and/or interpret data to make decisions about their care.
- Assign care or tasks based on the needs of the client and the care provider’s capacity. When an individual is assigned an intervention that is within the scope of practice or employment, they are accountable for the outcomes of their actions.
- Provide instruction and guidance as needed about the specific care or tasks that the care provider will be required to perform as needed.
- Ensure the UCP knows when and how to notify you or other nursing staff when needed.
- Follow your employer’s policies.
- Provide ongoing mentorship, guidance, and direction to the UCP.
- You are not responsible for errors made by other care providers unless you fail to intervene when you know or have reasonable grounds to suspect the care provider is not performing their duties safely and competently.
- When concerns cannot otherwise be satisfactorily addressed with support, guidance, and direction, you must intervene to ensure the client receives safe care. Advise your supervisor immediately.
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