New DON is going to ruin the facility

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

We have a new DON sent by corporate to "fix" our facility. She is very "by the book" which I am not opposed to, however she is not tactful and talks down to staff. She told one of our CNA's who is pregnant (the CNA bent down to do something and her underwear were showing) that "that's a way to introduce yourself to the new DON," She asked another CNA if she was going to stay for the staff meeting and the CNA said , "Oh, ok let me call my babysitter," and the DON said "well, are you supposed to be using your cell phone at work? I AM your new DON!"She brags that she is going to "fix this place" and that everything will be "better." She has started by investigating all of the nurses and giving write-ups for not signing a med out in the MAR, write ups for attendance (which needed to be done a long time ago) and is making some RN's work 24 hour shifts (which is illegal!) We are already short staffed and many more staff are leaving, and one will possibly be let go soon. The last facility she was sent to "fix" she fixed it by getting rid of the LPN's because she "doesn't like them." She isn't fixing anything relevant, like trying to figure out why no one will come in and work overtime, not figuring out why the nurses and CNA's can't get their work done on time, why the charting isn't done on time, why out of a wing of 60 people where half are lifts that require 2 people why people aren't getting to the dining room on time, why people aren't getting toileted every two hours......why her goal of call lights being answered in under a minute isn't happeneing in the AM and PM when the CNA's are getting people up or down and nurses are passing meds......my list goes on and on. I was caring for a pt who is schizophrenic one day and he says "I am going to the hospital because I have bronchitis,"....I am down the hall with another pt and didn't hear this.....the therapist told me. So we explained the situation to the DON and I asked her if this is the start of escalating behaviors in him and she says to me "I don't know but you need to assess him, listen to lung sounds yadayada, take him seriously," smirking at me..... Uh, yeah I told her, I know that. I was just down the hall with someone else.....We also have another patient who is always getting up trying to walk and is standing up every 5 minutes. He isn't appropriate for our facility and hits aggresively if you try to talk to him and ask him to sit. He used to be a boxer and has attacked several staff members, hitting one in the face. I was caring for him one day and he stands up, tabs alarm going off, and I am trying to get him to sit down. She comes flying out of her office and yells at me "I want him toileted, I want him walked, I want him given a snack, I want, I want, I want.....!" I said he was just walked by therapy (literally!) and just toileted. I helped the CNA just do that! and she says "I don't care, he needs to be walked more than just with therapy...."

So apparently this facility needs to be perfect.....if it doesn't get shut down because of inadequate staffing!! She was heard bragging the other day that "Everyone is leaving! So we'll just hire more people!" Sure........people are lined up outside clamoring for jobs!

How do you handle working for someone like this who expects perfection, does nothing to assist in helping, and you know it can't possibly be done, no matter if you are fully staffed or not? And we haven't been in a very, VERY long time!!

[Streamline2010]

I don't know, but sounds like chances are she's one of those "consultant" types that no facility wants to admit they made the mistake of hiring, so they give her a glowing reference and push her off to the next job. Either that or she is a "company man" hired specifically to get rid of experienced higher paid personnel or bust a union so that cheaper new hires can be brought in.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

I don't know, but sounds like chances are she's one of those "consultant" types that no facility wants to admit they made the mistake of hiring, so they give her a glowing reference and push her off to the next job. Either that or she is a "company man" hired specifically to get rid of experienced higher paid personnel or bust a union so that cheaper new hires can be brought in.

Yeah that's what we're afraid of......her chasing out all the oldies.....why in the world anyone would do that is beyond me. Costs more to hire and train than to retain! None of the higher ups in our facility last more that 2 years. In the over 5 years I have been here we've been thru new admin every 2 years. Have had 8 SDC's in the last 5 years. I am looking for a new job, have been for a long time.

[caliotter3]

Consultants seem to spend an inordinate amount of time seeking ways to get rid of long term employees, unless the long term employee is worthless.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

Consultants seem to spend an inordinate amount of time seeking ways to get rid of long term employees, unless the long term employee is worthless.

Seems like they would want to keep the good employees, not chase them off. LTC is obviously not about the patients. They (the residents) also complain and complain and complain and nothing is "fixed." LOL But "this is there home, without them you wouldn't have a job...." sure is a crappy home environment to live in.....not to mention work in when you get reprimanded for every little thing that is beyond your control!

[Bella'sMyBaby]

Unfortunately, I've ran into plenty of these Corporate "Fixers."

The only thing I can say is, she probably won't last long.

Do the best you can & try to stay "under the radar".....until she's gone!

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

We had an RN supervisor like that. She didn't last too long.

[JacknSweetpea]

Sounds like Professor Umbridge from the Harry Potter books!!! "The Minister will want to take immediate action"!

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

It's starting! We had a night nurse quit without warning. (The same night nurse that the DON called a liar about being on the schedule.) The ADON's are working the floor because the staff that is already there are refusing to pick up extra shifts. If I get the job I have a second interview on, I am out of there. Then they will really be up the creek without a paddle. And there isn't a line of people clamoring for a job, let me tell you. It's just too bad that the corporate up and ups don't have a clue. It would make for such a nicer work environment. Oh well, nothing I can do except find a job that makes me happy and satisfied with my work. We've already been told that if we don't like it there we can leave. All I can say is here comes Karma!

[ocean waves]

Hello. My new DON pal may be similar to your new DON regarding the goal of "perfection". She has enlightened me by saying that she is "pushed daily by her administrator to expect perfection ...no matter if you are fully staffed or not...." (for reasons of good patient care and high accreditation ratings). She says that her path as pusher for perfection is a very hard road because she knows staff may think she is asking them to do almost "mission impossible". Prior to her DON position, she worked as a staff RN at this LTC facility--she knows that short staffing and challenging patients can make patient care goals a nightmare. During your efforts to improve work for nurses and care for patients, try to keep in mind that some DON's are hammered by their administrators to demand "pie in the sky" patient care. Best wishes to you.

[marthyellen]

While you are out looking for a job, try to remember those DONs work for other corporations too. There are still some people who become DONs who have NEVER read a leadership book. They become DONs because they were good charge nurses. Try to "interview" the DON or ADON. What is the DONs philosophy on management? Does she manage by fear and intimidation or through true mentoring. Sounds like your new DON manages through fear and intimidation. It is more effective to lead through education and mentoring although it is more time consuming and may take longer to see results. Some people believe the title DON gives them power and respect. It does neither, you have to earn both. Hopefully in your next job you will have a DON who understands this. Good Luck in your new job. LTC is hard enough without a DON who makes everything punitive.

[doitallnurse]

Very frustrating! Hang in there!