ADON - RN

An Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) in a nursing home is a nursing leader who helps oversee the delivery of resident care, supervises nursing staff, and supports the Director of Nursing (DON) in ensuring quality care and regulatory compliance.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Supervising and mentoring registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
• Assisting with staffing, scheduling, and ensuring adequate nursing coverage.
• Monitoring the quality of resident care and addressing clinical concerns.
• Helping ensure compliance with federal, state, and facility regulations, including survey readiness.
• Participating in quality improvement and infection prevention initiatives.
• Assisting with resident assessments, care planning, and clinical documentation.
• Investigating incidents, managing follow-up, and implementing corrective actions when needed.
• Supporting employee orientation, training, competency evaluations, and performance management.
• Collaborating with physicians, therapists, social services, dietary, and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Acting as the Director of Nursing when the DON is unavailable.

Common qualifications

• Current RN license (required in most facilities).
• Experience in long-term care or skilled nursing, often 2–5 years or more.
• Prior supervisory or charge nurse experience is typically preferred.
• Knowledge of long-term care regulations, documentation standards, infection control, and quality assurance.

Key skills

• Leadership and staff development.
• Clinical assessment and critical thinking.
• Communication and conflict resolution.
• Organization and time management.
• Knowledge of long-term care regulations and survey processes.
• Problem-solving and decision-making under pressure.