Who is responsible for assigning and supervising your work as a nursing assistant?

The responsibility for assigning and supervising the work of nursing assistants typically lies with nurses. Nurses are trained to assess patient needs and organize care delivery, which includes delegating tasks to nursing assistants. They provide direct supervision and guidance to ensure that patient care is executed safely and effectively according to established protocols and standards.

While the health team, comprising various healthcare professionals, plays a collaborative role in patient care, it is the nurses who have the authority and legal responsibility to assign specific tasks to nursing assistants. Other nursing assistants may assist and support each other within the team, but they do not have the formal authority to delegate work. Doctors may provide orders for patient care, but they do not usually supervise nursing assistants directly. Understanding the hierarchical structure of healthcare teams is critical for clarity in roles and responsibilities.