New ADON didn't get training

Specialties LTC Directors

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I am an RN with less than 2 years of experience but I do have management experience. In 2010, I was hired as an ADON with promises of training. That really didn't happen. Along with ADON my other responsibilities are SDC, QAC, ICP and RNC. I have certainly learned a lot these past months

Has anyone else had this experience in LTC? How did you handle it? Any other ADONs that cdan give me advice?

Thanks

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Specializes in ICU, ER, MS, REHAB, HOSP ICE, LTC DON.
I am an RN with less than 2 years of experience but I do have management experience. In 2010, I was hired as an ADON with promises of training. Ha! that really didn't happen. I feel like a failure almost every day b/c I'm trudging along learning on my own. Along with ADON my other responsibilities are SDC, QAC, ICP and RNC. I have certainly learned a lot these past months but I hate the daily anxiety. And frequently I wonder why did they hire me if they really didn't want to train me. Not many jobs in my area so not much to apply for.

Has anyone else had this experience in LTC? How did you handle it? Any other ADONs that cdan give me advice?

Thanks

Iam a DON who got hired on with no trainging also, dont feel alone. Sometimes in managment this happens. For me, Iam a self starter and quick learner, I learned through looking at how it was done in the past and either doing it that way, or changing what I felt needed changing. This is not an easy task. Talk to your DON, have her give you a job description and ask many questions. They will frown on you if you dont ask. They will think that you must already know it, thus leads to more frustrations. Good luck to you, may I ask if you have had LTC experience. I did not.

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I had only 4 months of LTC experience. As far an a DON......he left last month and a replacement is starting soon. He was of no practical use to me, put me down in front of others and spent hardly any time with me. I don't really know how to manage up well so I'm really feeling like I've been set up for failure. Brand new unit mgr is very skilled at everything and she could sweet talk anyone to do anything. She has become the right hand man of the Admnistrator ...I'm left to take notes at meetings, investigate reports and feel like a lackey taking orders from her. My emotional state is going down further every day.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, MS, REHAB, HOSP ICE, LTC DON.

Im sorry for all the trouble your having, it is not easy, especially without a DON, hopefully youll get one fast

that knows the ropes. Iam currently training a new ADON, she has several years of experience, which is a

big help to me. The DON should never put you down, where would they be without you. You sound as if you

are dedicated and already do alot that your DON should be doing. Without a strong team, that link is broken,

everything will unravel. If you like your job, stick with it, believe me, it is really not much different anywhere else.

Where I was DON before, my ADON talked down to me and the Adm was on her side. When you get your new DON,

let them know what your duties are, maybe it can be delegated to someone else. You should always have a list

of delegated and delegatable duties. Remember, delegation goes down and not up. Best of luck. Keep me informed.

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You should always have a list

of delegated and delegatable duties. Remember, delegation goes down and not up. Best of luck. Keep me informed.

How do I get that?

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU, Psych, Med-surg...etc....

Your job description whould have a list/summary of your job duties. There always is the inclusion"other duites as assigned". I would ask for a list of my "other duites as assigned".

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Welcome to the world of nursing. Except for the facility orientation, I've never had any formalized training on the job. Luckily I've worked with a few good bosses who share what they know and now that I'm the boss, I'm the same way. I've been teaching my ADON, who is relatively new to LTC, what she needs to know to succeed. My first job as a DON?? The administrator literally threw the office keys at me, said "There's the phone...go on." That was it.

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@ Cape Cod Mermaid......wish you had been my boss when I started. I'm glad that now I have a new DON with a similar take on things that you have. Our survey window just opened and we are expecting the state to walk in this week. I'm just going to to the best job that I possibly know how to do.

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I never got any training on my present job as ADON. They showed me where my unit was and told me to go for it. Thankfully, I have many years of long term experience but work with a staff who hasn't had much supervision in the past. So, it is a challenge everyday just to try and make things run smoothly. Some days I feel like I spend most of my time doing what I call putting out fires and don't have time to get around to doing a lot of the things that really need doing. Any advice or suggestions are welcome.

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