ADON pay scale

Specialties LTC Directors

Published

Hi everyone,

I am interviewing for an ADON position and was wondering what an average salary would be. I know there are many variables that go into determining salary, so I will tell you what I know so far. First, I have 6 years charge nurse experience, No ADON experience. The facility is 50 beds and is in Massachusetts. I am sure I will be expected to take call.

Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Just taking a wild stab: $50 to $70K, but not familiar with your specific geographics, facility status, etc.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

50 beds and there is an ADON position? Unusual in these economic times.

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It is nomally a 70 bed facility, has only at this time. I am really not sure why. I haven't met with them yet, but I will be sure to ask :)

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Hi everyone,

I am interviewing for an ADON position and was wondering what an average salary would be.

Answer: Nowhere NEAR enough. Been there, done that, and have the claw-marks on my back to prove it.

It's OK if you enjoy working 60-hour weeks and getting paid for 40, and having no time that's truly your own even when you're supposedly NOT on-call. It's also OK if you don't mind having loads of responsibility with very little real authority. Long-term care tends to chew nurse-managers up and spit them out; and it doesn't help that you have to deal with more of the "fluff" than the substance, e.g., you spend most of your time trying to calm down upset family members or inflating their egos so they don't sue the facility, worrying about compliance with State regs, and investigating every microscopic skin tear and bruise that appear on your residents.

But, that's just me...........I wish you luck, someone's got to do these jobs!

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... 60-hour weeks and getting paid for 40, and having no time that's truly your own even when you're supposedly NOT on-call...

Sorry to hear this.

Thought that sounded more like the ADNS' spot.

You're a tough cookie, Viva.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Not so tough as I thought........I was headed for an MI last summer just before I left management, I weighed over 350 lbs. and had a BP so high that my meds couldn't even control it. Now both my weight and BP are down, as is my stress level, which even on a bad day rarely rises above a 5 on a 0-10 scale (I'd say it was a 12 before I quit!).

..I can't believe how relaxed I am being just a floor nurse again, where even if I have the shift from Hell, I don't have to deal with it after I hand over the keys to the next shift. I don't have to stay and "fluff" the families, cover the next shift for somebody who's called in at the last minute, give tours of the facility, do all of my work plus parts of everyone else's, and so on. I used to have a hard time feeling like a professional under the hourly wage system; now I couldn't care less how I earn my daily bread as long as I'm getting paid for every second I'm in the building.

OK, that was OT.....now back to our regularly scheduled thread.:smokin:

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Glad to hear you're feeling better.:yeah:

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Good for you, Viva.

Take it the claw marks have healed by now. :nuke:

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New ADON with 3 years ICU experience and no LTC - started at $62,000/year.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Good for you, Viva.

Take it the claw marks have healed by now. :nuke:

Yep..........only the scars remain, and they're fading fast.:smokin:

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Answer: Nowhere NEAR enough. Been there, done that, and have the claw-marks on my back to prove it.

It's OK if you enjoy working 60-hour weeks and getting paid for 40, and having no time that's truly your own even when you're supposedly NOT on-call. It's also OK if you don't mind having loads of responsibility with very little real authority. Long-term care tends to chew nurse-managers up and spit them out; and it doesn't help that you have to deal with more of the "fluff" than the substance, e.g., you spend most of your time trying to calm down upset family members or inflating their egos so they don't sue the facility, worrying about compliance with State regs, and investigating every microscopic skin tear and bruise that appear on your residents.

But, that's just me...........I wish you luck, someone's got to do these jobs!

I was very clear in the interview process that I would NOT routinely be doing 9-10 hour days. I have a second full-time job that is extremely important to me (my family!). "I agree to an 8 hr/day salary and that is what I anticipate working 95% of the time". Both of us understood that if they wanted/needed someone to commit to 10hr+ days, I wasn't the one for them. It's been nearly 3 months and I get out at 8.25-8.5 hr/day at least 90% of the time (and I am OK with that - knew it wouldn't be perfect :).

The rest of what is posted above... gotta agree, it pretty much sucks most days. I can only hope I make a difference a little at a time.

I haven't ever had an official ADON title before, but they knew that I knew the job responsibilities and wouldn't require much training. Therefore, I probably did start at an above average wage in this area. Very close to 60,000

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