set up for failure

Don't give up. I worked with a DON who had been fired 3 times. Honestly, she was a great DON...taught me all sorts of things. She was outspoken and tried to get the nurses to step up...they didn't want to. Some companies stand behind their directors...some don't. If you want it badly enough, you'll find a place where you fit.

OH that is such great advice Cape Cod, In my facility I have been the ADON, but after my son was born I told them I could not do that so no one else can catch on the MDS so I am doing that and teaching the nurse aide class. I can not be on call and I realized that 24 hours a day with a child with downs syndrome, therapy you know the drill. I too got burnt out and was so tired of feeling like am I the only one around here that ever charts, gives pain meds when someone hurts, does the treatments when I had to cover a shift etc... We currently have state in our building, I am so glad tomorrow I am home with my son to cuddle him and he has therapy and I can get some studying done ( I am working on my associated degree in nursing now) I started back at this job in 2005 and we have had 12 different DON's need I say more about corporate dragons!!! The few that were good they would run off because they would not let us have the things we needed to care for the residents including staff and wages. I stay loyal to the resident and giving new cna's information to do the job safely and too feel appreciated-- they know to come to my door I always spend 20 bucks a week on my candy bowl lol.

Evette, I don't know what is available for facilities out there but, try a small(er) one, maybe non-profit and try to stay away from large corporates. They are in it for the money and will eat their young. Make sure you become best friends with your NHA... to have them in your side pocket makes the best team. The first facility doesn't always work out, try again.

I had never been a DON before when I was handed the job 4 yrs ago. It was certainly not my dream to be one. But I did the best I could with it. Dearly loved my residents, and the staff and I worked great together. Increased census from 50% to 85%. Went from losing $ to making $. Got a new adm not long after I took the job, and he was wonderful. Corporate could just not be satisfied. They just kept criticizing. I finally had enough. I resigned last month. The staff has been so upset that they are now leaving. That seems to be what corporate wants. Guess they want all new people. Now the adm has resigned. I don't feel like I failed. I gave it my best, learned alot, and my residents got the best of care when I was there. As long as you give it your best, that is all you can do. There are plenty of DON jobs out there if you want another one. You can do whatever you want to do, so do not give up if that is what you want.

Evette, the best mountain climber in the world would most likely not be able to get to 3000 ft with their hands tied behind their back, their ankles shackled and someone constantly throwing obstacles in their way. Your heading says it all. Obviously I've never been a DON (I'm an LPN), but I've seen numerous wonderful nurses attempt the impossible, do a tremendous job and bring about many improvements, only to be walked all over by corporate. It just makes me want to scream, but often times corporate prerequs for a good DON are directly opposed to what most of us would consider necessary traits for a good nurse. It's probably fair to say: They don't deserve you. And also a huge thank you to those DON's who'd rather change jobs than sell their soul or sell out their staff. If I am any good at what I do, it is largely because of some of the DON's I had the privilege to work with.

oh gosh I wish I could work with you guys, would love to work with nurses that still give a dang for a change.... yes seems like corporate loves to throw you under a bus many times. I have been begging for training for months and all I hear is we dont have enough money. -- but if they train us we will make the money for them dang they are dumb...

Keep your dream, I am sure you would do well as a DON. Remember each facility is different. I have been lucky to work full time in the county nursing home, where we have no corporate bosses. The downfall to that is when there is a problem and you have to work out the solution, there is no one but you to make the ultimate decision--you can work with the administrator and the unit coordinators, but ultimately you are left holding the bag. I think that is why I am so worried about appling for the position, and now I have my interview at 2:30 tomorrow. This week we had a hot line call from an incident that happened a year and a half ago. The resident since has passed away and we had to think, just given a scenerio from the surveyor who she was here to investigate. We received 2 tags from her visit( no reporting condition change to family, doctor, and assessment). The resident had an emesis and the nurse did not call the family or doctor immediately, the next shift nurse called and had her sent for an evaluation 4 hours later because she continued to vomit. The first nurse only had that the resident had an emesis and her temp--no other vitals, no abdominal assessment--nothing! The surveyor told me that if only the first nurse had done and charted the assessment and a full set of vitals we would not have these tags. This incident really has me concerned--everyone in LTC knows that if you didn't chart it it did not happen! So now because of poor assessment and charting we are in trouble. If I get the DONs position, I want to have a meeting with the nurses and tell them they are going to be held accountable, it is only fair--taxpayers will now have to pay the fine--the nurse who did not assess, call, or chart is scott free, the DON is doing nothing, not even talking to her--I have to do the education because that is my current job but that is fine, I am just upset she is not going to be held accountable am I looking at this the wrong way? Would that put me in the same category as the DONs who house clean?

Is there more to the story? I can't imagine calling a doctor and a family because someone vomited once.