Who is held accountable for the tasks performed by the patient care associate (PCA)?

The correct answer identifies the Registered Nurse (RN) as the individual accountable for the tasks performed by the patient care associate (PCA). In a healthcare setting, the RN has the primary responsibility for patient care, which encompasses delegating tasks and ensuring that those tasks are performed safely and effectively by other team members, including PCAs.

The RN is trained to assess patient needs and is legally and ethically responsible for the outcomes of the care provided. Therefore, when a PCA carries out assigned tasks, it is the RN who must oversee this process and ensure that care standards are upheld. This supervisory role includes monitoring performance, evaluating patient responses to care, and integrating the PCA's contributions into the overall care plan.

This accountability is essential for maintaining patient safety and ensuring high-quality care. While other members of the healthcare team, like charge nurses or healthcare administrators, may have roles related to oversight or management, they do not have direct clinical accountability for the patient care tasks performed by PCAs as the RN does.