On this page
At a glance
| Provider | Our pick | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best post-acute nursing data | Nurse Leader Training & Certification | preparing an internal candidate for the DON role |
| 2 | Best DON peer benchmark | Nurse Leader Training & Certification | peer networking and DON-specific education |
| 3 | Best workforce data | Nurse Leader Training & Certification | workforce data, policy updates and quality programs |
| 4 | Best for nonprofit operators | Nurse Leader Training & Certification | nonprofit operators building leadership pipelines |
| 5 | Best for industry pay news | Job Boards & Hiring Platforms | recruitment advertising to an LTC leadership readership |
Our picks, ranked
- 1Best post-acute nursing data
AAPACN
Nurse Leader Training & Certification
Trade-off Placeholder - the honest catch, added after review.
Placeholder - our 2-3 sentence take on this provider is written by the editorial team after review.
What works
- Added after our review.
Watch for
- Added after our review.
Best for preparing an internal candidate for the DON role
Compare Nurse Leader Training & Certification Full review coming soon - 2Best DON peer benchmark
NADONA
Nurse Leader Training & Certification
Trade-off Placeholder - the honest catch, added after review.
Placeholder - our 2-3 sentence take on this provider is written by the editorial team after review.
What works
- Added after our review.
Watch for
- Added after our review.
Best for peer networking and DON-specific education
Compare Nurse Leader Training & Certification Full review coming soon - 3Best workforce data
AHCA/NCAL
Nurse Leader Training & Certification
Trade-off Placeholder - the honest catch, added after review.
Placeholder - our 2-3 sentence take on this provider is written by the editorial team after review.
What works
- Added after our review.
Watch for
- Added after our review.
Best for workforce data, policy updates and quality programs
Compare Nurse Leader Training & Certification Full review coming soon - 4Best for nonprofit operators
LeadingAge
Nurse Leader Training & Certification
Trade-off Placeholder - the honest catch, added after review.
Placeholder - our 2-3 sentence take on this provider is written by the editorial team after review.
What works
- Added after our review.
Watch for
- Added after our review.
Best for nonprofit operators building leadership pipelines
Compare Nurse Leader Training & Certification Full review coming soon - 5Best for industry pay news
McKnight's Long-Term Care News
Job Boards & Hiring Platforms
Trade-off Placeholder - the honest catch, added after review.
Placeholder - our 2-3 sentence take on this provider is written by the editorial team after review.
What works
- Added after our review.
Watch for
- Added after our review.
Best for recruitment advertising to an LTC leadership readership
Compare Job Boards & Hiring Platforms Full review coming soon
How we picked
Every option on this page is weighed against the same five criteria, in the same order. Rank follows the criteria; award labels say what each option does best.
- 1 Relevance to the DON role. How directly the content, credential or data applies to long-term care nursing leadership.
- 2 Source quality. Whether the material is built on cited data, recognized standards or accredited curricula.
- 3 Cost and access. Membership, course and certification costs, and what is available without paying.
- 4 Practical use. How readily a new or developing DON can apply it on the job.
- 5 Fit for independent operators. Whether a single-site SNF or assisted living operator gets full value, not only large chains.
How to choose
Placeholder - a short guide to choosing among don salary & compensation options for an independent SNF or assisted living operator is written by the editorial team.
- Best for preparing an internal candidate for the DON role AAPACN Jump to #1
- Best for peer networking and DON-specific education NADONA Jump to #2
- Best for workforce data, policy updates and quality programs AHCA/NCAL Jump to #3
- Best for nonprofit operators building leadership pipelines LeadingAge Jump to #4
- Best for recruitment advertising to an LTC leadership readership McKnight's Long-Term Care News Jump to #5
How much does it cost?
Placeholder - typical cost ranges are added from our DON salary and leadership benchmark and from published pricing.
| Option | How you pay |
|---|---|
| Association membership | An annual individual or organizational membership fee |
| Certification | A course and exam fee, plus renewal and continuing education |
| Online training platform | A subscription, usually priced per learner or per facility |
Where to find these resources
Placeholder - where operators find and engage associations, programs and resources, and when each route makes sense, is written by the editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
Questions are being collected
Answers to the questions operators ask most about don salary & compensation will appear here.
References
Placeholder - the sources behind this ranking are listed here as the page is filled.
More rankings
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Best DON Retention and Leadership Support Resources
Keep nursing leadership stableSee the ranking
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Best Survey-Readiness Resources for New Directors of Nursing
Protect surveys and star ratings+1 See the ranking
-
Best DON and ADON Certifications and Training Programs
Certifications and training