Any LPN/LVN DON's or ADON's or in Management Somehow???

[FocusRN]

Okay I now that it is possible because at the last facility that I was at, the ADON, was an LPN. I don't know how long she's been a nurse but she's been their ADON for 9 years, and she's pretty young. But anyway, how would a person go about doing this. I plan on working in LTC straight out of school, and I want some type of management position after my first year (I may be an RN by then), but just in case I am looking into an online Health Care Management Degree program, or something. Do ya'll think that will provide me with what I need to have one of these positions, or some other king of management position. I don't believe that just because a person is an LPN, and not an RN, that they can't have he same management responsibilities as RN's simply because management is just that management. True true nursing skills are an essential qualification for the job, but from what I have been hearning from a lot of ADON's is that their jobs don't really have much to do with nursing unless, you are talking about hiring and firing the nursing staff, or scheduling them. So what do ya'll think? If I go for this degree it will be online while I am, in school to become an LPN, so I'll have some under my belt by the time I start nursing. And just in case no one knows my current plan here it is:

While in LPN school, do all of the pre-req's for EC's LPN to ADN program

Be done with LPN school by Jan. 2007

Start working as an LPN

Finish EC's LPN to ADN program 6 to 12 months after, I become an LPN

Start working as an RN

Start on EC's ADN to BSN program and take my time with it

And now somewhere in that mix, get into nursing management, preferably while I am still an LPN. I know I have goals that seem far to some, but I won't limit myself, because I think when people do that they are just giving into that old stereotypish phrase "Just an LPN", and I refuse!

[donmomofnine]

I have LPN supervisors and the manager in charge of my nursing assistants is an LPN as well. I think it's cumbersome for the ADON to be an LPN. She needs to fill in for the DON at times.

[tylerlvn]

At the LTC facility I work at our ADON is a LVN. I know she has over over 15 years experience.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Being quite honest, to supervise, you have to have the respect of your staff. And people respect experience and education. You need one or the other, and preferably both. As a new grad LPN, you won't have much of either compared to the other people on staff. Take your time getting into management. Once you get some time under your belt, and some more of your education, the management position will find you.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

A DON must be able to do what an RN can do in order to do their jobs...so I don't feel an LPN should have that position. Don't get me wrong..I know many LPN's that would make excellent DON's, but even they would admit they are limited to tasks and can't provide the tasks needed by a leader for RN's. My DON is the delegator and assignment task master for the LPN's...so the RN needs to be there...

I have one of the best LPN's I feel in the world! (man I love this gal!!!! Envy her too!), and she is second in command...she doesn't want to be first..in fact, I know that is why they hired me. I have less experience, but I have the RN. But there are far too many days when I think to myself "dang it ____, you need that RN so you can be in charge because if I can pick one single person I have ever been in contact with to be a potential DON..it is you!!!!!!!"...but I know..she doesn't want to be RN..and I respect that.

I hate to seem mean, but in my facility..which is assisted living btw...I feel an RN must be DON because of what my DON has to do. The DON is salary, and is called to take on duties PRN...best to be RN in that case.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

HI capecod mermaid,

Mass RN here, yes i agree, most don positions they have to be an RN

but i have to tell ya, 15 years ltc, i havent met a management team i want to work in in the last five years, Most now seem likethey either dont care

or they havent got a clue what the hellthey are doing and forget about weekend, they do better disappearing act than Houdini

Lauri

Lauri---y'all come on down to old Cape Cod and work for me....my DON calls in at least 10 times over the weekend...I go in on the weekend if I know there are admissions and call just to see how everything is going....