Weekend Ready: How this DON Preps for a Smooth, Stress-Free Weekend in Long-Term Care

Let’s keep it all the way real — weekends in long-term care can make or break your building’s flow.

If you don’t prep right on Thursday, you’ll be playing firefighter all weekend. And as a Director of Nursing, you know that chaos trickles down fast.

Here’s exactly how I set my building up for success before I clock out on Friday:

✅ 1. Lock in the Schedule — NO Ghost Staff Allowed

First thing I check. The weekend schedule. No fake names, no “they might show up” energy. Your scheduler needs to confirm each and every shift. Call, text, verify. You want solid coverage — not vibes.

📢 2. Remind Staff About the Weekend Makeup Policy

If your policy says missed weekday shifts get made up on the weekend, remind your team. Set the tone with clarity and consistency.

📦 3. Supplies Check — Do You Have Enough?

This isn’t the time to run out of briefs, gloves, or wipes. Your weekend crew needs to be equipped. Double-check that supplies are stocked to ride out Saturday and Sunday smooth.

💊 4. Narcotics? CHECK THEM.

This is not optional. No nurse should discover on Saturday night that a med cart is out of pain meds. On-call docs hate last-minute calls for narc scripts — and pharmacies don’t move fast. Avoid the headache: audit your narc counts early.

🏥 5. Know Your Admissions and Discharges

Huddle with your admissions director. Know who’s coming in, who’s leaving, and what level of care they need. Don't let a surprise admit derail your team.

📞 6. Confirm Who’s On Call and Who’s MOD

Simple but critical. Who’s the on-call nurse for clinical issues? Who’s the Manager on Duty? Confirm this in writing and make sure the whole team knows the chain of command.

We know things will pop off that we can’t control. That’s long-term care. But that doesn’t mean we don’t plan.

Failing to plan is planning to fail — period. This Thursday checklist keeps your building steady, your weekend calm, and your stress levels way down.

Every DON should have a prep routine like this.