education/experience requirements for DON/ADON

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2010

Education = ASN

Experience = not such an easy answer, but AT LEAST 3-5 years of LTC experience. You really need to have basic understanding of how all 3 shifts run, what their responsibilities are, what all is involved in the RAI process, several survey experiences, etc.

debRN0417 · Mar 1, 2010

I agree with Nascar nurse- At least 3-5 years of floor experience, working the floor, passing meds, calling docs, charting, documenting, etc, and then go for ADON to get a feel of the administrative tasks and responsibilities. After that you will have the experience and knowledge to determine if it is what you want to do....most facilities have requirements for DON position, and if they don't, or are willing to take a new grad- RUN!

DaniLPN2RN · Mar 1, 2010

While I am not a DON/ADON, I do work in LTC with a DON who was hired right out of nursing school. It is very difficult for a DON to understand what that staff needs when you've never been in that situation. I agree with Nascar Nurse ... if you want to be an effective DON with a staff who respects you, please work in LTC and gain hands on experience. It's important to understand what staff in LTC deal with. LTC is not the easy job that a lot of people think it is. It's very demanding and often times budget controlled. It's difficult (manageable, but difficult) for a nurse to manage 20-60 pts, which is the norm in LTC. As a DON, when you can understand how hard the staff works, you will appreciate them that much more!

Moogie · Mar 2, 2010

I am not a DON or ADON either but I agree completely with the previous posters who recommend as much well-rounded experience on all three shifts in LTC if you are interested in this type of managerial position. It is very frustrating to work under someone who does not have enough experience to understand the realities of the floor and comes out of the office, dressed in pearls and pumps, looks at the staff scurrying around and says, "I didn't know how busy it was here!"

Although an associate's degree is considered enough education for a managerial position in LTC, I strongly recommend a BSN. I learned much more about leadership in my BSN program. Many hospitals are requiring mid-level managers to have BSNs or, in some cases, MSN, and it would not surprise me if eventually the trend turns toward requiring a BSN for an ADON/DON position in some LTC facilities. That day may not come for a long time but if your eventual career goal is management, why not get the BSN to make yourself more marketable in the short term?

asfreeasabird · Mar 2, 2010

One of the LTC facilities that I worked at the ADON was an LPN and the DON was an ADN. I don't think this is enough education to run a facility with 100 residents 15-20 nurses and who knows how many aides. When the state surveyors came in they were always scrambling to get things together. The manager of my floor has a BSN and may be required to get her MS in a few more years. An associates program does not prepare a nurse for that amount of responsibility and leadership. I would look at the area and see what you need to be competitive. If this is where your heart is you should familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of LTC. Work on the floor, work treatments, help with admissions, with discharges, know all about long term care nursing. I have also heard of nurses that have worked as consultants for LTC facilities to spot things out of order before the state surveyors come, this may be helpful as you would have a trained eye.

Best of Luck.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Mar 3, 2010

Truth be told, NO nursing program prepares you to be an ADNS or a DNS. I have a BA in English and then went to a hospital based nursing school. I've been in LTC most of my career. I started (yes, it was the dark ages) as a nurses' aid....was a staff nurse with 30 sub acute patients, a nurse manager of a sub acute floor, an SDC, supervisor, MDS PPS coordinator, an ADNS and now a DNS. My nurses can't tell me 'you don't know what it's like' because I've had all their jobs. You need experience in the field at the managerial level. You need great clinical skills, time management skills, interpersonal skills...you name it, you'll need it. I spend as much time on the floors as I do in my office (not usual really). I help the nurses....I stick up for them in the face of mean family members and over bearing doctors and PTs. You need to learn all these skills to be a good DNS. NO ONE should be a DNS straight out of school.

Moogie · Mar 3, 2010

Truth be told, NO nursing program prepares you to be an ADNS or a DNS. I have a BA in English and then went to a hospital based nursing school. I've been in LTC most of my career. I started (yes, it was the dark ages) as a nurses' aid....was a staff nurse with 30 sub acute patients, a nurse manager of a sub acute floor, an SDC, supervisor, MDS PPS coordinator, an ADNS and now a DNS. My nurses can't tell me 'you don't know what it's like' because I've had all their jobs. You need experience in the field at the managerial level. You need great clinical skills, time management skills, interpersonal skills...you name it, you'll need it. I spend as much time on the floors as I do in my office (not usual really). I help the nurses....I stick up for them in the face of mean family members and over bearing doctors and PTs. You need to learn all these skills to be a good DNS. NO ONE should be a DNS straight out of school.

This is a huge reason why you are effective in your role. I would work for you anytime.

noc4senuf · Mar 3, 2010

I have an Assoc degree.... been a DON for 8+ years now, have worked all shifts in the past, started as a CNA in the 70's, done MDS, RAPS, care plans... you name it (still do any and all when needed or jsut pitching in). No school is going to teach someone how to do my annual budget for 100 beds and 80 some employees, oversee Med Records, and the staffing office. It is all a learned skill.

bossynurse101 · Mar 6, 2010

I also started out as a CNA (in the 80's), but only for a couple of years as conditions were pretty bad back then. Didnt go for my RN degree til late 90's and got my degree in 2001. I worked in the hospital for a year - would strongly suggest every new nurse do the same so that you get a couple of skills under your belt. Worked in LTC on the floor another yr or so after that, then MDS for a couple of years and have been an ADON for 3+ years now. I am just now feeling somewhat qualified to be a DON - but only for a company that believes in training/mentoring for a little while. Recently however, (although I dont let it show) I am actually feeling pretty inadequate, as I feel like I've lost my skills, and that my floor nurses might know more than I do clinically. Its not a good feeling, I wish I had a better foundation (will start a new thread i think! :idea: ). You can know rules and regs front & back but there really is no substitute for good old fashioned hands on. As a staff nurse I could never truly respect a DON that did not have LTC floor experience, and at least a couple of years of management experience. It's not all its cracked up to be - it isnt easy to get people to do what they are supposed to . . . . it is an art, and the effective DON's that I have worked with all had a good foundation, and much experience - with LTC, management, and life.

TonyaM73, ASN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

What a great thred. I was just wondering about these issues myself since I was just promoted to evening and weekend supervisor. I just graduated from RN school in August and have been working for this LTC for the last 4 months. I am feeling inadequate about this new responsibility. I have asked my direct supervisor, that I have had since I started, if she felt that I was ready and she seems to have a lot of confidence in me. Any advice from the posters would be apprecitated.:dzed:

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

What a great thred. I was just wondering about these issues myself since I was just promoted to evening and weekend supervisor. I just graduated from RN school in August and have been working for this LTC for the last 4 months. I am feeling inadequate about this new responsibility. I have asked my direct supervisor, that I have had since I started, if she felt that I was ready and she seems to have a lot of confidence in me. Any advice from the posters would be apprecitated.:dzed:

You are on the right track but you are not ready for ADON/DON position. Time...that's what it takes. It's the only way you gain the experience you need to survive.