Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON)

Job Description

Job Description

Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON)

At Aspire Senior Living , our mission is to transform lives through Accountability, Service, Purpose, Integrity, Responsibility, and Excellence . With an unwavering commitment to our residents and an employee-focused approach, we create a brighter future for our communities and empower our team to deliver exceptional care and support.

Aspire Senior Living Excelsior Springs is seeking an experienced and compassionate Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) to join our nursing leadership team. The ADON works closely with the Director of Nursing (DON) to provide clinical leadership, support nursing operations, develop team members, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure residents receive high-quality, person-centered care. This Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) position also provides leadership and oversight of the community’s Infection Prevention and Wound Care programs, including infection surveillance, staff education, wound monitoring, prevention initiatives, and regulatory compliance.

This is an excellent opportunity for an RN who is ready to strengthen their leadership career while making a meaningful impact on residents and the nursing professionals who care for them.

Nursing Leadership & Team Development

• Partner with the Director of Nursing to provide leadership and direction to nursing staff.

• Assist with recruiting, hiring, onboarding, orientation, scheduling support, and ongoing supervision of nursing personnel.

• Foster a positive environment built around teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and excellent resident care.

• Mentor and support nurses and nursing assistants in their professional development.

• Assist with performance evaluations, coaching, employee development, and corrective actions as appropriate.

• Serve as a clinical resource and visible nursing leader throughout the community.

Infection Prevention & Wound Care

• Support and oversee the community’s Infection Prevention and Control Program in collaboration with the Director of Nursing and interdisciplinary team.

• Monitor, track, and help investigate infections, infection trends, and potential outbreaks; identify opportunities for prevention and improvement.

• Conduct infection-control surveillance and maintain appropriate documentation, tracking, and reporting in accordance with facility policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Reinforce infection-prevention practices, including standard precautions, transmission-based precautions, hand hygiene, PPE use, isolation practices, and environmental infection-control measures.

• Provide infection-prevention education, coaching, and competency support to nursing staff and other team members as appropriate.

• Assist with outbreak preparedness and response, including communication, surveillance, implementation of precautions, and follow-up.

• Collaborate with nursing leadership, providers, pharmacy, laboratory services, and other members of the interdisciplinary team regarding infection concerns and antibiotic stewardship.

• Provide clinical oversight and support for residents with wounds, pressure injuries, skin concerns, and other conditions requiring wound care.

• Complete and/or oversee routine skin and wound assessments and ensure changes are identified, documented, and communicated promptly.

• Monitor wound measurements, treatments, physician/provider orders, documentation, and resident progress to help promote positive healing outcomes.

• Collaborate with physicians, wound care providers, nursing staff, Therapy, Dietary, and other disciplines to develop and implement individualized wound-care interventions.

• Help identify residents at increased risk for skin breakdown and implement appropriate pressure-injury prevention strategies.

Clinical Oversight & Resident Care

• Help ensure residents receive high-quality nursing care consistent with professional standards, facility policies, and regulatory requirements.

• Monitor resident conditions and changes in health status.

• Review care plans and collaborate with physicians, providers, Nursing, Therapy, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.

• Conduct rounds to evaluate resident needs, identify concerns, and provide support to residents and nursing staff.

• Promote timely communication regarding changes in condition and resident needs.

• Assist with developing and implementing clinical protocols, policies, and best practices.

Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement

• Participate in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities.

• Assist with clinical audits, incident reviews, investigations, and root-cause analysis.

• Monitor clinical outcomes and identify opportunities to strengthen resident care and safety.

• Partner with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement quality-improvement initiatives.

• Assist with corrective action plans and follow through to help ensure sustained improvement.

Regulatory Compliance & Survey Readiness

• Help maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements governing long-term care and skilled nursing.

• Promote an environment of continuous survey readiness.

• Assist nursing leadership with preparation for regulatory surveys, inspections, and audits.

• Help identify and address potential compliance concerns.

• Participate in developing and implementing plans of correction when necessary.

Education & Staff Development

• Provide education, coaching, and clinical guidance to nursing staff.

• Reinforce nursing policies, procedures, standards of care, and regulatory expectations.

• Assist with identifying educational opportunities based on resident needs, clinical outcomes, and staff performance.

• Support completion of required nursing education and competencies.

• Encourage continued learning and professional development throughout the nursing department.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice required.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

• 3–5 years of clinical nursing experience preferred, ideally within long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or senior living.

• Previous nursing leadership, supervisory, Unit Manager, ADON, or similar experience preferred.

• Experience with infection prevention, infection surveillance, wound care, and pressure-injury prevention within a long-term care or skilled nursing setting preferred.

• Knowledge of infection-control practices, wound assessment and documentation, antibiotic stewardship, and applicable long-term care regulatory requirements preferred.

• Infection Preventionist training/certification preferred or willingness to complete required training, as applicable to the position and community.

• Strong knowledge of nursing standards, clinical practices, regulatory compliance, and quality-improvement processes.

• Understanding of long-term care regulations and survey processes preferred.

• Strong clinical assessment, critical-thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to coach, motivate, and develop nursing professionals.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with residents, families, physicians, providers, and interdisciplinary team members.

• Proficiency with electronic health records (EHR) and healthcare-related computer applications.

• Ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

As an Assistant Director of Nursing , you'll do more than support nursing operations—you'll have an opportunity to develop your team, strengthen clinical outcomes, advocate for residents, and help shape the culture of care within our community.

If you're an experienced RN who leads by example and is passionate about resident care, clinical excellence, and developing strong nursing teams, we want to hear from you.

Apply Today and take the next step in your nursing leadership career with Aspire Senior Living Excelsior Springs!

Accountability. Service. Passion. Integrity. Resilience. Excellence.