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Workforce & roles

director of nursing (DON)

Nurse leading clinical operations in an agency or facility.

  • Glossary

These definitions are plain-language summaries for orientation — not legal or clinical advice. Program rules, eligibility, and rates change. Confirm details on the official sources linked below or on the related Knowledge Hub guides before making decisions.

Definition

In senior care, Director of nursing (DON) refers to nurse leading clinical operations in an agency or facility.

Training, certification, and scope of practice differ by role. California home care aides, CNAs, LVNs, and RNs each have distinct duties and supervisor requirements.

When hiring, verify background checks, training, and whether the role matches the care plan — especially for hands-on or medication-related tasks.

Learn more on the Knowledge Hub