Iam currently the DON at a facilty with census of 62, I have only been there a little over 2 months. Never having been a DON before. We have a Tx nurse, PCC who does careplans, and a ADON.
I was recently told that I could not delegate duties because of the "extra positions we have in management". Because before there were only the DON and ADON who did it all. Now I shouldn't need to delegate, "eveyone has their own duties".
The only ones salaried are the ADON, myself and the PCC. I was told that the ADON title was a misleading title and that it did not mean assitant director of nurses. Just what does it mean then, if not just that. I did a lot of research online before taking this position through TASHA website, and learned that if you do everything yourself, you are dead in the water without delegation. The ADON does all the MDS, the PCC does the careplans, the TX nurse, well;; does just that. Where does that leave me.
Doing all the 24 hr report checks, investigation of all the incident reports, taking calls and calling hospitals and pt families on all new referrals. Doing all the interviews ,new hires orientation, making the schedules for the month, approving and staffing fill ins for PTO. Daily nurse/cna schedules. Keeping up with license and certification dates of all CNAS, CMAS, and nurses. SOC meetings and minutes, QA meetings and minutes. I have to take these home to complete them, I work 10- 12 hrs per day.Attending all stand up meetings. Do rounds on 4 halls by myself, check wounds twice a week and make sure Tx nurse is keeping up with documentation. Pass out trays at dinner time. Attend careplan meetings when family request. Address all complaints with family and/or staff, filling out and investigating all complaints. Keep logs on all narcotics discontinued or expired until they can be distroyed. Check timesheets daily for missed punches. (feels like an HR job to me). Answering call lights and expected to fill in when there are slots that cannot be filled and the ADON or PCC is too busy.I also take call for one week a month I thought that the DON per regs could not work the floor with census over 60. Humm.. . I was told this was also a false fact. I am overwhelmed. I feel like I have not seen my 14 y old son in 2 months.
BTW, Iam a single mom recently, my husband left. but no one knows this. I did not want to bring my problems to work. Any time I try to delegate to the ADON or PCC, they tell me they are too busy and one actually starts to cry. She tells me ,"I am so overwhemed." With what? She gets an hour lunch break, while I get no lunch break at all, rarely ever leave the facility and have lost 22 lbs in 2 months.
She took her personal problems to the Administrator and cried to him telling him that I dont do anything and that she has to do all my work. I have a job description of what each of us are supposed to do. Am I being taken? Just how stupid do they think I am? I guess as stupid as me putting up with it because I truly love the facility and my residents.
The administrator sided with them I guess because I'm new and they have been there longer? He told me to grow a thicker skin and dont let it get to me because " Im sitting in a great position"> Not from where I see it.
