Is a DON position realisitic?

[mattseviernd]

I'm in my last semester of nursing school, so I should have my RN by the end of the year. I am seriously interested in trying to get a DON position for some underperforming LTCF in the Nashville, TN area after I graduate. I would like some feedback on whether or not this is realistic. Everytime I look at the Tennessean, it seems that two or three nursing homes are looking for a DON. I worked in a nursing home for 3.5 years, spending half of my day in restorative and the other half as acting secretary to the DON and ADON. I am very familiar with the headaches and the stress that goes with the job, and have tried to prepare myself appropriately. I took surveyor training online from CMS and have done extensive research on recruiting and managing frontline staff, not just techs but LPNs as well. I go to every seminar I can on LTC topics, have taken MDS training, and have been an active participant in conference calls from the state's QIO and from our Eden Alternative coalition office. I would like to institute culture change very slowly and *try* to find ways for the entire staff to work smarter, instead of harder. My former bosses said I needed to make policy instead of enforce it, and I have been told that I have no business being a staff nurse given my extra training. What do you guys think about my prospects? How likely do you think it would be that a nursing home would be willing to consider a new grad, considering my extra training? Thanks.

[banditrn]

After 6 months in LTC, I have a few ideas of what I would do if I were a DON, but I have nowhere near the knowledge and experience that it would take at this time to REALLY do justice to the job - and by the time I do, I'll be ready for the 'home' myself.:)

They don't just need to have NURSING experience, but GOOD, proven leadership skills - plus there are SO many rules and regs anymore that it gives me a headache.

[brendamyheart]

After 6 months in LTC, I have a few ideas of what I would do if I were a DON, but I have nowhere near the knowledge and experience that it would take at this time to REALLY do justice to the job - and by the time I do, I'll be ready for the 'home' myself.:)

They don't just need to have NURSING experience, but GOOD, proven leadership skills - plus there are SO many rules and regs anymore that it gives me a headache.

Very good point!!!

[Traveler]

I don't think that every RN who has excellent clinical and assessment skills makes a good DON but I do think that every DON should have some experience out on the floor and needs to have good clinical and assessment skills. In LTC there are usually not a lot of other RNs to go to if you can't get an IV started, foley in, line flushed. There aren't doctors routinely making rounds that you can request to check in on a patient who may be going into CHF crisis. It is most helpful if the DON can function well in situations like this. The DON is going to lose a lot of respect really fast if unable to perform clinically and it is not a benefit to the residents either. Of course the DON needs to have good leadership skills as well, but the clinical skills need to be there first.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Back to the original poster - what did you decide to do? Thanks.

[augigi, CNS]

Per llg - Don't work for someone stupid enough to give you a DON job as a new grad.

There is no way in "you-know-where" that someone who has never worked as an nurse can be in a position to direct the careers of other, more experienced nurses. Why would you even want to put yourself in that position? You will get resentment, obstruction and frustration for your efforts, regardless of your skill or knowledge.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Per llg - Don't work for someone stupid enough to give you a DON job as a new grad.

There is no way in "you-know-where" that someone who has never worked as an nurse can be in a position to direct the careers of other, more experienced nurses. Why would you even want to put yourself in that position? You will get resentment, obstruction and frustration for your efforts, regardless of your skill or knowledge.

Yep...what they said. I'm wondering what the OP ended up doing?

I've worked with DONs who have walked the walk, so they can talk the talk. They tend to be the better ones. If you've never passed meds to 25+ pts, done treatments, dealt with families, docs staff and done your charting etc...then how are you gonna tell me how to manage my time better...