Donor selection for relay nodes comprising directional antennae

Systems, methods, and processing nodes for selecting a donor access node for a relay node comprising a plurality of directional antennae include instructing the relay node to attach to a first preferred donor access node using a first antenna of the plurality of directional antennae. While maintaining the connection with the first preferred donor access node using the first antenna, the relay node can scan for potential donor access nodes using one or more remaining antennae of the plurality of directional antennae and, upon identifying a second preferred donor access node from the potential donor access nodes, to perform a handover from the first preferred donor access node to the second preferred donor access node.