I am a brand new DON in a 74 bed long term care facility. I was given 1 day orientation and have been flying by the seat of my pants since. I have 26 years as a staff nurse but this is my first management position. It seems no matter what I do to fix one thing something else falls apart. Staffing retention was good for awhile but has since fallen apart again. I can't get my shifts to work together. They blame each other for all the problems. What can I do to pull them together as a TEAM?? Help, PLEASE!!

I know.. fell into the same situation, and 2 years later it seems it is the same thing every day! Every building..every state... I think that nurses these days feel they have the upper hand and can just do what ever they want and move on to a new better job.
Being a staff nurse is so much better!

Being a DON is one of the most challenging things to do as a nurse. The only thing you can do is attempt to put your systems in place and maintain them will challenge you and you will survive.