Qualifications for DON designee or alternate?

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Hi everyone,

Can anyone give me an idea of what the minimum qualifications are for a Director of Nursing designee in a Home Health care agency? We're in California and I can't seem to find anything in the state or federal regs that address this. Thanks!

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Check your policy book or your accrediting body/agency.

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If I were going to guess, I would say they are the same as that for someone hired as the DON.

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

No, they're not always. I am a designated alternate and didn't have to go through the credentialing that the DON did. Best to check with agency policy manual and/or accrediting body.

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Specializes in Home Health.

The COP specifically addresses this issue. You can find it in the Federal Register. A home health DON is required to have had a minimum of 1 year field experience, but I could be wrong as it may be 2 years.

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