DON
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Director of nursing |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Military |
DON has two meanings. It stands for Director of nursing (hospital) or Department of the Navy (military unit and organization).
Meanings of DON at a glance
| # | DON stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director of nursing | Medical › Hospital |
| 2 | Department of the Navy | Military › Military Unit and Organization |
1. Director of nursing
Medical · Hospital Abbreviations
Registered nurse who leads nursing services in a nursing home, assisted living community, home health agency or smaller hospital, overseeing staff, policies and care quality.
Example: DON notified of resident fall with injury; family called.
Federal rules require certified nursing homes to have a full-time registered nurse as DON. Long-term care DONs work closely with the administrator and medical director and are central to state inspections. An assistant director of nursing (ADON) often handles scheduling and education.
2. Department of the Navy
Military · Military Unit and Organization Abbreviations
Military department containing both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps, led by the civilian secretary of the Navy. It manages budgets, acquisition, personnel policy and installations for both services.
Example: The DON budget request includes funding for two new attack submarines.
Created in 1798 as a separate cabinet department, it became part of the Department of Defense in 1949. The Marine Corps commandant and the chief of naval operations both report to the secretary of the Navy, but neither service commands the other.
Related abbreviations
More hospital abbreviations
- CNO – Chief nursing officer
- CTICU – Cardiothoracic intensive care unit
- CVICU – Cardiovascular intensive care unit
- DNV – DNV Healthcare
- ECF – Extended care facility
- ED – Emergency department
- ER – Emergency room
- EVS – Environmental services
See all 89 hospital abbreviations →
More military unit and organization abbreviations
- DAF – Department of the Air Force
- DEVGRU – Naval Special Warfare Development Group
- Div – Division
- DoD – Department of Defense
- EUCOM – United States European Command
- FORSCOM – US Army Forces Command
- HHC – Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- IDF – Israel Defense Forces
See all 126 military unit and organization abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.