education/experience requirements for DON/ADON

[shelbee1084]

I am in nursing school right now and will receive my RN in about 1 1/2 years. I love geriatrics and it is where I want to work. eventually becoming a DON/ADON in LTC is something that I may be interested in. I was wondering if anyone oh here could give me some information as far as the educations and expereince requirements usually are to obtain a position like this.

[nyteshade, BSN]

Not trying to be Nancy Negative here but, a new grad DON/ADON would get eaten alive by inspectors.

[Moogie]

Not trying to be Nancy Negative here but, a new grad DON/ADON would get eaten alive by inspectors.

The new grad DON/ADON cold also be eaten alive staff nurses and CNAs as well. I don't think you are being negative at all. I think it is too much responsibility for new graduate with no previous nursing experience and it deprives the new graduate of the opportunity to become comfortable in acquiring the organizational, technical, and critical thinking skills that one gains through experience in direct patient care. One of the keys to being an effective leader---not just a manager but a LEADER---is to have credibility with one's staff and I just don't see how that credibility can be established in terms of clinical competence if one is a brand new graduate with no nursing experience.

Honestly, the only way I could see a new grad DON or ADON would be if it was someone who had plenty of experience in that facility as an LPN/LVN. Still, even then someone who has "risen through the ranks" can be resented by those who worked with him/her before he/she became the boss.

[DaniLPN2RN]

The new grad DON/ADON cold also be eaten alive staff nurses and CNAs as well. I don't think you are being negative at all. I think it is too much responsibility for new graduate with no previous nursing experience and it deprives the new graduate of the opportunity to become comfortable in acquiring the organizational, technical, and critical thinking skills that one gains through experience in direct patient care. One of the keys to being an effective leader---not just a manager but a LEADER---is to have credibility with one's staff and I just don't see how that credibility can be established in terms of clinical competence if one is a brand new graduate with no nursing experience.

Honestly, the only way I could see a new grad DON or ADON would be if it was someone who had plenty of experience in that facility as an LPN/LVN. Still, even then someone who has "risen through the ranks" can be resented by those who worked with him/her before he/she became the boss.

I think someone with no floor experience as an nurse also has a hard time hiring. This is the case in my facility. Apparently, all you need to have is a piece of paper stating that you are a licensed nurse. Doesn't matter what type of person you are ... she'll talk to you about 5 minutes then offer you a job! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that was the case when I was a new grad and desperately needed a job ... but that doesn't work for everyone. I'm a good nurse ... others are not. We've had people who have been terminated from other facilities for various reasons, one was under investigation for abuse ... seems a background check could have found out some of this information. But, I digress. Point is ... without solid experience as a bedside nurse, one has no clue what it takes to be a nurse in LTC. It's a very difficult, thankless job ... it's only meant for certain people ... not all nurses can handle LTC!!

[Schmoo1022]

It is experience, but being in charge of people is a skill. Not everyone with a BSN is cut out be a director, just as not everyone with an ADN is. I have met nurses who are phenomenal floor nurses, but would never cut it as management, nor would they want too. I also had an a fantastic director who knew her stuff, but couldn't take the stress of the floor anymore. Being a good boss is a skil.l Of course no education is wasted, but no matter how much eduation some people have, they just don't have what it takes to be a boss.

Did that make any sense at all LOL

[susanthomas1954]

After thirty five years of management experience, no one who interviews me is concerned about my ADRN. I don't even put my master's on my resume because it is in an unrelated field altogether. The ADRN programs, even today, prepare nurses better for the bedside than the BSN programs in our area. Several people have agreed that you need bedside experience in order to gain the respect of the other nurses. Follow the logic, and hire the best nurse for the job. Three to five years experience supervising CNA's in one facility DOES NOT make you magically able to withstand a state survey, and neither does a BSN. If you weren't raised as a child to do critical thinking, a BSN isn't going to give it to you. Life experience may........