Strengthening Nursing Leadership Through Supplemental DON Support

An established surgery center needed additional nursing leadership support to maintain appropriate Director of Nursing coverage while strengthening its day-to-day clinical operations. The center had an inexperienced DON in place, so the demands of managing clinical operations, staff oversight, regulatory responsibilities, documentation, and ongoing survey readiness required additional resources and experienced support.

Rather than replacing existing leadership, the center engaged Ambulatory Management to supplement and strengthen the DON function while providing hands-on guidance to the facility’s nursing team.

Once engaged, our Nurse Consultants worked onsite alongside the center’s DON and staff to evaluate clinical operations and identify areas requiring additional attention. This included review of personnel files, staff education and competencies, policies and procedures, infection prevention practices, clinical documentation, medication management, quality initiatives, and other responsibilities that fall within nursing leadership and regulatory oversight.

Our assessment allowed us to identify immediate priorities while also recognizing opportunities to strengthen the DON’s knowledge, organization, and confidence in managing the regulatory and operational responsibilities of the position.

Our approach was designed around the specific needs of the facility. Experienced Nurse Consultants provided supplemental Director of Nursing support and onsite coverage when needed, helping the center maintain continuity of nursing leadership and appropriate DON coverage.

At the same time, our team worked directly with the facility’s DON through one-on-one mentorship and hands-on training. Rather than simply identifying what needed to be done, we worked alongside the DON to strengthen processes, organize documentation, complete outstanding competencies and regulatory requirements, address compliance concerns, and establish practical systems for managing ongoing responsibilities.

This collaborative approach allowed the existing DON to remain in leadership while gaining the experience, resources, and support of a team of ASC professionals.

With supplemental DON support in place, the center was able to strengthen nursing oversight, maintain required leadership coverage, address outstanding compliance responsibilities, and improve overall survey preparedness. Just as importantly, the engagement provided the DON with an experienced resource to rely upon as questions and challenges arose.

What began as a need for additional coverage developed into an ongoing partnership that strengthened the facility’s nursing leadership and created a more organized, sustainable approach to clinical operations and regulatory compliance.