Director of Nursing (DON)
Definition: The registered nurse responsible for overseeing all nursing care services in a skilled nursing facility, including staffing, care planning, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
In Practice
Federal regulations require every Medicare/Medicaid certified nursing home to have a full-time DON who is a registered nurse. The DON plays a central role in survey readiness and POC development. Many deficiencies cite the DON's responsibilities directly or indirectly.