New DON

[jay34]

I am enjoying my job as DON of a LTC facility. But I have noticed that I am very frustrated lately with the day to day running of the facility. I find myself doing things so that I know they were done and done correctly. I sometimes feel that I can not trust my team to complete assignments and do them correctly. How do I tackle this issue head on without making my staff feel like I do not appreciate them?

[AudraTXRN]

You have to have a reasonable expectation that your administrative nursing staff knows what their jobs are and how to do them. Then you have to let them do their jobs and hold them accountable. You can't do everything--you will burn out in a hurry. If your are new to this facility, I would recommend having each staff member (ADONs, etc) write down what they are responsible for each day, week, and month. Then, I would have a meeting with them--maybe over a meal you provide and have them bring their lists. Start by telling them how much you appreciate them. Then, put the lists together and suggest ways to redistribute the jobs. Make sure everyone gets at least one job they are passionate about--you do better work when it interests you. They will feel empowered because you are letting them give input, and you will get a much better feel for the staff. Once a week, you can do an audit (a 10% sample works pretty well). If someone isn't meeting your standards, you will know and can address it with that person. At the same time, if someone is doing a great job, you should tell them that, too! Your staff will have much more respect for you and will strive for excellence because they know their work will be acknowledged. In a pretty short time, you will know who is reliable and who you may need to replace. You have to trust them. It's your license on the wall, after all.

[jay34]

Thanks for the information. I will definitely try this on next week with my admin staff. One thing that I have tried is giving specific assignments with specific times to have them completed. Thanks again.