Can Margaret delegate a controlled act to an unregulated care provider if she cannot evaluate ongoing competence?

The correct answer is that Margaret can delegate a controlled act to an unregulated care provider if there is a mechanism to determine continuing competence. This is rooted in the principles governing nursing practice and delegation, where the registered nurse retains accountability for the care being provided.

In this context, if there are established systems in place to assess and ensure the ongoing competence of the unregulated care provider, it becomes permissible for Margaret to delegate. This means that she must utilize tools, guidelines, or standards to evaluate whether the unregulated provider is capable of performing the task safely and effectively, despite not being able to directly monitor their practice on an ongoing basis.

This approach supports safe nursing practice while acknowledging the realities of clinical settings, where continuous supervision may not always be feasible. It emphasizes the importance of safeguards and assessments rather than just direct oversight. Thus, as long as there is a framework for determining and maintaining competence, delegation can occur safely.