Rethinking the Delegation Framework in Nursing Through the Lens of Nursing Care Entanglement

BACKGROUND: Traditional nursing delegation frameworks treat care tasks as discrete, isolated units, failing to reflect the complex realities of contemporary nursing practice. INTRODUCTION: The Nursing Care Entanglement Theory (NCET), complemented by complexity and human factors perspectives, posits that nursing activities are deeply interwoven, contextually shaped, and relational, challenging conventional task-based delegation models. METHODS: This viewpoint article examines current delegation frameworks through the lens of NCET and related theoretical perspectives to uncover conceptual and policy-level limitations. FINDINGS: Existing delegation models oversimplify nursing practice, leading to fragmented care processes, missed clinical cues, and increased risks to patient safety across diverse healthcare settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND OR HEALTH POLICY: Policy makers, healthcare organizations, and regulatory bodies must redesign delegation frameworks to acknowledge care entanglement, ensuring comprehensive assessment of delegatee capabilities and preserving nursing care integrity.