DON Basics Course

Elevate Your Nursing Leadership with the Director of Nursing Basics Certification Course!

Thanks to our Partnership with Pathway Health, we are able to bring the Director of Nursing Basics Certification Course to Wisconsin.  

HUDSON, Wisconsin Course May 13-14 AND June 10-11, 2026 - Must attend all four days

Location: Hampton Inn, Hudson 2610 Pearson Drive, Hudson, Wisconsin, 54016, USA

Time: Wednesdays, the class is from 9 am to 5 pm, and Thursdays, the course is from 8 am to 4 pm. *

Cost of the course: 
Members - $1399
Non-Members - $1499

This certification course is available to any nursing leader who feels they would benefit from this foundational training and credential. It is for Directors of Nursing, Assistant Directors of Nursing, Nurse Managers, Supervisors, etc. Train your team to meet the demands of leadership. 

Instructor: Lori Koeppel, BSN, RN, NHA, WCC, DNS-CT, WDONC Executive Director 

“Our company trialed the first restart class of the DON-C course by sending two veteran and one newer DON to gain an understanding if this should be our clinical leadership standard for all of our DON to attend. Happy to report that we have then sent three more of our clinical leaders and will in 2025 have the rest of our DON team take the course. It not only provides excellent review for seasoned DON – it re-energizes and encourages collaboration and networking; so needed to sustain in the role of SNF DON. 100% highly recommend this course!”

~Rachel Royston, BSN RN, WCC, DON-C | Clinical Nurse Consultant, Illuminus

Must complete 28-hours of education in order to sit for the exam.  

Are you ready to empower your nursing leadership team to thrive in today’s dynamic healthcare landscape? Look no further than our comprehensive DON Basics Certification Course provided in partnership with Pathway Health.

Dive into the Essentials: Gain a deep understanding of organizational planning tailored for a Director of Nursing (DON) role.

Master Budget Management: Learn how to navigate budget management intricacies, aligning resident acuity with staff management for optimal outcomes.

Ensure Safety First: Explore essential steps in safety management, ensuring top-tier care for residents while maintaining a secure environment.

Implement Evidence-Based Systems: Harness key systems such as Falls, Wounds, Infection Control, and Pain Management, ensuring evidence-based policies and procedures are seamlessly integrated and consistently followed.

Foster Vital Relationships: Understand the pivotal role of relationships within the healthcare ecosystem, from residents and families to administrators and surveyors.

Navigate Medication Management: Delve into the DON’s crucial role in medication management within the facility, ensuring safe and effective administration.

Empower Through Education: Discover essential components of staff education, empowering your team for excellence in care delivery.

Navigate Documentation and Compliance: Master oversight of MDS, Medicare management, reimbursement, and nursing documentation systems, ensuring compliance and accuracy.

Prepare for Success: Equip yourself with the knowledge and strategies to navigate surveys with confidence, ensuring seamless preparation and management.

Drive Quality Assurance: Understand the DON’s pivotal role in Quality Assurance and QAPI, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.

Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to elevate your nursing leadership to new heights. Enroll in the DON Basics Certification Course today and take the first step towards achieving excellence in healthcare leadership!

Learner Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:

  • Describe the organizational planning necessary for a DON.
  • Verbalize the DON Role in budget management in relation to resident acuity and staff management.
  • Describe the essential steps in safety management of resident care.
  • Identify key systems (Falls, Wounds, Infection Control, Pain, etc.) and how to ensure evidence based policies and procedures as well as consistent implementation are instituted.
  • Verbalize the necessary key human resource “need to knows” for the DON.
  • Describe the importance of relationships: Residents, Families, Administrator, IDT, Nursing Management Team, Staff,
  • Medical Director, Pharmacy Consultant, Hospital Discharge Planners and Surveyors.
  • Describe the DON’s role in medication management in the facility
  • Verbalize the necessary staff education components
  • Verbalize the DON’s role in oversight of MDS, Medicare management, reimbursement and related documentation systems.
  • Verbalize the DON’s role in oversight of the facility nursing documentation system and follow through
  • Describe the DON role in preparation and management of the survey process.
  • Identify the DON’s role in Quality Assurance and QAPI in the facility.

NOTES ON REGISTRATION PROCESS: 

If you are not a member, please proceed with the registration to complete as a non-member.

Sending a check? Choose Bill Me Option at checkout. An invoice will be emailed within 24 business hours. 

Make sure you are logged in on the registration screens for membership rate eligibility.  Log in at the top right corner of the next registration screens.  Add a quantity during checkout by clicking the RED "+" button during checkout. 

HUDSON Wisconsin Course May 13-14 AND June 10-11, 2026 - Must attend all four days

Cost of the course: 
Members - $1399
Non-Members - $1499

* By registering, you agree to attend and accept financial responsibility for the registration fee. You confirm that you have reviewed and understand the cancellation policy and deadlines, including that cancellations made after the deadline require full payment. Due to a change in policy, we require a credit card to complete registration. 

REGISTRATION REQUIRES A CREDIT CARD. * 

Attendee Registration MAY/JUNE Course

NOTES ON REGISTRATION PROCESS:

If you are not a member, please proceed with the registration to complete as a non-member.

Make sure you are logged in on the registration screens for membership rate eligibility. This is a second login from this webpage. Log in at the top right corner of the next registration screens after you click "Register Here".  Add a quantity during checkout by clicking the RED "+" button during checkout. 

HOTEL INFORMATION FOR HUDSON - No room block has been reserved. 
HAMPTON INN - HUDSON, WI

2610 Pearson Drive, Hudson, Wisconsin, 54016, USA
Hudson, WI 54016

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. How long is the test
A. The test is 100 questions and is multiple choice

Q. Is there a certification test on the last day?
A. It is not on the last day. Access to an online test will be emailed to you within a few days of completing the course.  You must attend all 28 hours to be eligible to complete the test.

Q. How long do I have to complete the test?
A. The credentialing body requires the test to be completed within 90 days of completing the course. However, it is best to set aside time as soon as you can after the course to take the test.  

Q. What if I fail the test? 
A. You are allowed to retake the test as many times as required within 90 days of completing the course. 

Q. Does this course have a credential? What is the designation we use?
A. Yes, DON-C. Once you pass the exam, you are eligible to use a credential. After your name, you list your degrees and licensures, and then you would use the credential DON-C. Here is a guide from ANCC "How To Display Your Credentials" for help.

Q. Does the credential expire?
A. The certification is valid for 2 years.  Recertification will require one of two options:

  • Web-based Pathway Health DON Basics Recertification Course followed by a post-test, OR
  • Proof of certification from an organization that offers a more advanced DON Certification Course (i.e., NADONA, AAPACN, etc.)

Q. Can an LPN complete the DON Basics Course or earn the DON-C credential?
A. The course will benefit LPN leaders, and LPN leaders are encouraged to attend the DON Basics Course, as it provides the foundational knowledge of leading staff in skilled nursing facilities.  However, an RN license is required to sit for the DON-C credential exam.  Attendees have 90 days to sit for the DON-C credentialing exam after completion. 

* Q. I can't make a day or two of the course, can I register and make up the session at another time? 
A. Please sign up for the course that you can complete during the scheduled days. The credentialing process requires the course to be completed in the order it is presented.  As the content can change from course to course to meet updated guidelines, it is important that the course is completed in a timely manner.  We do not have the capacity to make up for the missed time in another course or individually.