Which is one of the five rights of delegation?

• A. Right time
• B. Right task
• C. Right patient
• D. Right equipment

Answer: (B)

Delegation in nursing hinges on five rights to keep patients safe: the right task, the right circumstances, the right person, the right direction/communication, and the right supervision and evaluation. The right task means choosing activities that are appropriate to delegate to a trained helper, within their scope of practice, with predictable outcomes, and without requiring nursing judgment. This is why it’s the best choice here—the task itself is what can be delegated, not just when, to whom, how, or how it’s overseen. The other options aren’t part of the five rights (for example, time, patient, or equipment aren’t listed rights in this framework); the complete set focuses on ensuring the task is suitable, performed by the right person in the right circumstances with clear instruction and ongoing supervision. An example: delegating routine vital signs for a stable patient is a right task, while interpreting new findings or making clinical decisions is not.