contemplating a home health DON position...

[Timetochange08]

Today I was offered a DON position (applied for PRN field nurse) which pays really well. I'm feeling nervous, I have lots of field experience but not supervisory experience. I know oasis in and out from a field perspective but I also know there are LOTS of things I don't know from a DON perspective. I have about 10 years home health experience. Just super nervous because I have always worked in the field. Has anyone made this transition and have any advice to offer?

[caliotter3]

I would not get too worked up over the supervision part of it. Most of these problems take care of themselves. Allow your clinical supervisors to intervene to keep the field nurses in line if need be. Of concern on your level are rumors of fraud. Usually comes in the form of nurses falsifying their time sheets. Now this is an easy one. I would investigate any situations. If you witness a nurse in the act, immediately terminate her/him and take other action you deem appropriate. Afterwards, use this as a teaching point for your other field nurses and such behavior will come under control very quickly. Once nurses find that their agency takes such matters seriously, they will stop.

[KateRN1]

I wholeheartedly disagree with Caliotter. There are tons of things you don't know about management if you've only been out in the field. I would not recommend taking a DON position without having had some experience as a clinical manager, clinical supervisor, case manager, whatever they call that middle-management position in your area. Most problems do not "take care of themselves" but rather mushroom if not dealt with in some way. If the agency is willing to hire someone without experience, it's generally because no one with experience will touch it--or they don't want to pay the salary for someone with experience. Caveat emptor.

[nancycprn]

IM a DON in a new company and have too great bosses, but the nurses in the field can call alot of the shots. I don't have that much control, and they don't speak english with the nurses, so i never know whats going on.

[carwin]

Nancy,

They are running a game on you. You are only the name on the org chart. I wonder how many of those visits are actually made. The bosses are not clinicians are they? The bosses are nice because they don't want you to figure out the game. That is not going to change. Start looking.