frequent falls

There is no regulation requiring an LTCF to have ADONs. Hence duties and responsibilities are "set" by individual facilities, authored of course, by the DON. If your facility's organizational chart depicts you as second in command to the DON, then you assume all responsibilities designated to that DON during his/her absence.

In your case, you guys get to do all the tasks, the DON simply oversees the process (and still gets the glory).

Discreetly ask for the DON's job description. Hey, you'll never know you might be stepping on her toes ... or, doing a job she's supposed to do

To succeed with your new role, (quote) "Don't waste time telling people what you are doing or what you are going to do. Results have a way of informing the world."

Good luck!

Deadhead

Don't worry to much. In Michigan I know of DONs and Administrators getting cited under specific tags because they are responsible for everything that everybody does. The ADONs don't have that spicific tag that I'm awear of. I wish I was an ADON again.

There isn't any tags for ADON's. There are no specific citations for DON's or Administrators but some tags fall under administrative. The facility is cited.

Any position in a facility can cause a citation if the person errors no matter what department.

The buck always stops with the administrator and DON. It's their job to ensure everyone is doing their job to the best of their ability and with the supplies needed to do it...that's their main function.

In my state, any SNF with 120 beds or more is required to have an ADNS. It's in the public health code.

deadend:

let me try again. Deadend, It sounds like to me that you and the don do not have a good working relationship. I am a DON. I have an ADON, SDC, Wound specialist, medical records and redstorative nurse. I have very set parameters for everyone. My ADON and I sit down once a month and make sure that we are both okay with the task assignments. We divide it up mainly by core programs. Here is how we have it split up: DON: infection control, investigations r/t event reports, attendance, behavior management, nutritional management ADON: fall investigation and follow-up, resident mantoux, disciplinary action, b/b, quarterly assessments, 450-b, pain management, hydration management, oversee medical records, careplan meetings. Now, the rest of the programs are with the appropriate nurse managers. You may notive that her list is longer than mine (sometimes she even helps me with my programs). The reason is that I have to meet with any families that need to meet with anyone, go to all the endless meetings, go to functions outside the facility, meet with employees, meet with administrator whenever she wants to meet and field all the endless phone calls. We get along great. the nurse managers have a meeting every morning to discuss what needs to be done, who needs help with what and any new projects, employee problems, staffing etc. I just keep rambling, I guess my point is that we are all there for each other. We help each other with whatever needs done, we are like family and we are only as strong as our weakest member. We are not all wrapped up in whose responsibility is whose...I think that you and the DON need to sit down and talk, you need to have an extremely close relationship to succeed. If you do not have open communication, you will end up missing things and doing double work. In the end, state will ask you the questions. You are accountable for whatever programs the DON thinks she has assigned you...so make sure you are very clear on the responsibilities, if she will not talk to you and you have honestly tried to have a honest conversation, talk with the administrator. If your DON is not a stand-up person, you may end of screwed in the end.