Nursing homes need many individuals to run the facility safely and efficiently. A sound organizational structure helps employees of the center know who to answer to when providing patient care.

Owner and Administrators

The head of the nursing home's organizational structure is the individual owner. If the facility is owned by a company, the owner of that company, or the company itself, is sometimes listed as the head. Below the owner are the nursing home administrators, including the director of nursing and director of rehabilitative services.

Other Directors

Typically below, or at the same level as the directors of medical services, are the nursing home's directors of non-medical services. These include the heads of the business, admissions, dietary, kitchen, social services and recreation departments. The assistant director of nursing and charge nurse are usually located below the department heads, but above other nursing home employees, such as RNs or LPNs.

Front Line Workers

Finally, after the various department heads come the front-line workers, such as the doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, dieticians, housekeepers, maintenance employees, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists.