Home Health DON training thru Health Care Performance Institute

[mommy1975]

I have accepted a position as DON for the first time. I am excited about the position, but nervous due to my lack of experience. I know that for me, the best way to reduce feeling overwhelmed and anxious about something is to LEARN more about it, dive into research, etc.

I have been a nurse, and a manager, but never a nurse manager, and though you can be good at both, it does NOT necessarily make you a good nurse manager. SO, I found a program through the Health Care Performance Institute that helps with training a first time DON, but most of the training seems to be focused on in hospital training (and then, there are of course, LTC programs for DONs, but LTC is VERY different from HH). So, I was hoping someone out there could tell me whether or not they had used this company and if they think it would be helpful to me in a HH setting, or if there is another company or program they could recommend? Thanks so much!

[KateRN1]

Do you have experience in the field as a home health nurse?

[mommy1975]

Yes! I started out in the field as FFS, then became a Case Manager. I mostly manage from a desk now, but sometimes I get the rare opportunity to go out and see patients.

[KateRN1]

That's a relief. I can't tell you how many people take on a DON position without any field experience whatsoever, no experience with home health at all, and then wonder why they fail. Why would anyone take on a leadership role in an area that they have no experience? I wouldn't dream of being a director of a neuro unit without neuro experience, why is home health somehow viewed as different? Where are you located? Is your agency willing to pay a consultant to help you?

[mommy1975]

My agency has contracted with a consultant company to help walk us through the process-Century 21. I also mentioned this training through Health Care Performance Institute, and they happily enrolled me in that, as well.

[KateRN1]

Sounds like a great company. Wishing you all the best. Let me know how they work out, that may be a good resource for us at some time as well.