ADON, to be or not to be?

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Hello everyone,

I have worked as an LVN for 1 1/2 years at a long term care facility while transitioning to get my RN, and I just got my RN license this month.. Just recently the position for ADON became available at my job and my DON has suggested I take it. Given my lack of experience in nursing, I feel a bit hesitant but I don't think I can turn down that opportunity.. does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom to share with me?

Thanks :)

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Specializes in Acute Care.

I don;t even want to be a DON or ADON anywhere.. From all my experiences, when you start you are left cleaning up a mess. Plus, people in those positions are easily gotten rid of...

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Applying and the interview proccess may be a good experience for you, to see how this is handled at your facility, so in the future you might be a little more prepared for when you do want to advance into another position. If your DON is super helpful, and you feel like you will get adequate guidance jumping into that role, it might not be a bad idea. But if you are very sure that you are unable to take on that level of responsibility, and will have no one backing you up, you could be setting yourself up for a bad situation and failure.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

If you want my advice, Not to be. Don't do it. Worst job I ever had, hands down, and that includes my first job picking tobacco for 10 hours a day the summer when I was 8. I tried it out way back when, when I was still a relatively new nurse; I guess I had been in the game about 4 or 5 years. I got psychosomatic hives that did not go away until I resigned. I think I'm beginning to itch a little just thinking about it. :shudder:

Run.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I would wait and get some experience as an RN first. Your transition from LPN to RN will be hard enough without adding the stress of being the ADON.

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Thanks for all the input everyone.. one thing I didn't mention is that the facility does not have a floor position available for an RN right now, it's not in the budget they say.. so currently I do prn for them and part time for a home health company which pretty much equals out to a full time job, just while I'm looking for a permanent job - which I've had no luck with. The hospitals where I live mostly just hire nurses with a bsn, and I have a 4 year old daughter so I can't go far from home to look for work due to child care ... So the ADON position appeals to me partially because of the hours, partly because I think it would be a good experience to put toward possible future jobs, partly because it will be a nice paycheck, and even partly because I get some kind of weird satisfaction out of going into some big "mess" and cleaning it up and seeing the difference I could make. I am anticipating a lot of work, and a lot of stress.. that much I think I can handle, and if I can't handle it and decide it's not for me I'll just resign and take it as a learning experience.. but what I'm worried about is this, if this does blow up in my face so to speak and something goes wrong... to what extent will I be held responsible? I mean, is worse case scenario getting fired? Or could this in any way affect my license?

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Well it sounds like you made up your mind, so I don't know why you asked for advice, lol. No, if it all goes south you won't lose your license unless you are complicit in fraud or covering up abuse. Refrain from that and you're golden.

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