MDS Coordinator salaries

Specialties MDS

Published

I know I have asked this before, but people change so fast on here I thought I would see what the response was like in 2006.

So, if you don't mind

1. How much to you make as MDS Co (or if you're a DON/ADON - how much is your MDS person paid). I make $21/Hr and thinking that is not enough!

2. What part of the country do you live in. I live in Indiana.

3. How much experience do you have w/ MDS. I have 6+ years.

Thank You

Nascar Nurse

Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Do any MDS nurses out there have to be on call at there facility when someone calls off? If so, is the pay higher?

Yes, I have to take rotating weekend call and expected to go in and cover call offs. I do not make one stinking cent for staying home waiting to see if the phone rings on my weekend call (seems highly unfair). I get regular pay if I go in, unless I have enough hours to put me into overtime.

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What exactly does a MDS coordinator do??? I saw an opening recently here for that position...

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mds coordinator following federal and state guideline sets up when mds's are to be done to be in compliance, to sign off that all areas of the mds are completed. raps are completed if a full mds is needed for admission, change of condition and annual mds"s also with all medicare mds's. she works with therapies to get the best rug level ( highest paying) for the facility. she also cover any section of the mds if say the social service personel is on vacation, or activities is out of the building ect....

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I as MDS coordinator did the nursing sections of the MDS which changes from facility to facility who is responsible for what. I did sections c,f,g,h,i,j,l,m,o,p,q,r,t,v. and any sections that I was filling in for. Using the RAI guidelines. Medicare MDS'S are done on 5 day admission, 14 day, 30, 60 day and 90 day, if there is a significant change good or bad in a resident's abillities or health statu. State requires admission, quarterly and significant change MDS's. I had 15 Medicare residents and 45 medicaid Residents.

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HELLO. I am a MDS Coordinator in Rhode Island and have been for more than 10 years. I make 28.50 an hour and could have asked for more. The benefits are not that great. The whole question of MDS Coordinators vs DON/ADON. You can not compare apples to oranges. All the have very distinct roles and those roles vary greatly from facility to facility. I don't want there jobs and they do not want mine. As far as who should make more the ADON or the MDS Coordinator...They should be on an equal playing field. Both have a lot of responsibility just in different ways...salary should be equal. Just my opinion.:madface:

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HELLO. I am a MDS Coordinator in Rhode Island. I have been for more than 10 years. I make 28.50 an hour and could have asked for more. The benefits are not that great in my company and that seems to be the trend in long term care. Does anyone know about Arizona salaries for MDS Coordinators? I am going to be relocating within the next year or so.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
HELLO. I am a MDS Coordinator in Rhode Island and have been for more than 10 years. I make 28.50 an hour and could have asked for more. The benefits are not that great. The whole question of MDS Coordinators vs DON/ADON. You can not compare apples to oranges. All the have very distinct roles and those roles vary greatly from facility to facility. I don't want there jobs and they do not want mine. As far as who should make more the ADON or the MDS Coordinator...They should be on an equal playing field. Both have a lot of responsibility just in different ways...salary should be equal. Just my opinion.:madface:

At the risk of getting flamed....I've been the PPS/MDS coordinator for a building whose Medicare census averaged 28/month and I've been (and currently am) an ADNS. The MDS job was straight forward ...I was responsible for MDSs and care plans...money..making the most we could. And it was an important job but I was only responsible for my actions. Being the ADNS, however, I am (along with the DNS) responsible for EVERYTHING...if a nurse screws up, if an aide screws up, if a kitchen person screws up. There really is no comparing the two.

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Well I agree, we all have our opinions. I guess it depends what position you hold. It is normal to believe your own position is the hardest, but in reality all positions are hard. I'm a MDS person myself, and at our facility, I work in more than ONLY MDSs. MDSs in itself is much more than it use to be in the past as regulations change ever time you blink. LOL. I must be living in the wrong state because all of you seem to be making more than me. Whaaaaa. LOL.

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Specializes in LTC, Surg.

I live in the SouthWest. Our MDS coordinator makes about (within a few cents) what the ADON makes. And worth every penny!:wink2:

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After reading your posts, I have to say, you guys need to speak and and demand better wages. I was an LPN for 9 years and my starting wage back in 97 was 16.00. You as an RN are only making 21.00/hr 9 years later? For the past 4 years as an LPN I have made no less than 19.00/hr as just a Med/Treatment nurse and as a gastro nurse. I just graduated RN school and was hired as a unit manager for a medicare unit at 27.00/hr fresh out of college. Now I am moving to the MDS position with today as my first day of training at 28.00/hr. As an RN in any position in any state, if you are making less than 26.00 per hour as a new grad or less than 28.00 with experience, you are being played. There is a nursing shortage and you need to act like it.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
After reading your posts, I have to say, you guys need to speak and and demand better wages. I was an LPN for 9 years and my starting wage back in 97 was 16.00. You as an RN are only making 21.00/hr 9 years later? For the past 4 years as an LPN I have made no less than 19.00/hr as just a Med/Treatment nurse and as a gastro nurse. I just graduated RN school and was hired as a unit manager for a medicare unit at 27.00/hr fresh out of college. Now I am moving to the MDS position with today as my first day of training at 28.00/hr. As an RN in any position in any state, if you are making less than 26.00 per hour as a new grad or less than 28.00 with experience, you are being played. There is a nursing shortage and you need to act like it.

What state are you in? I agree I am underpaid, but what to do when corporate doesn't agree. Was just up for my annual raise - which is a usual 3%. Pointedly asked the ED about at least a 4%, showed him my RUG scores with very impressive rates. He said he would look into it. Raise day came and went, he never got back to me and a 3% raise showed up on my check. No explanation why he couldn't at least go to 4%. I've been looking ever since. My biggest problem is I tend to "grow roots" where I am at and have a VERY difficult time with just the thought of leaving what I know.

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I live in Littleton Colorado and worked previously in Tacoma Washington. I guess I look at it differently than you. If I don't get what I want or get paid what i deserve, I look to a place that will pay what I deserve. I believe i am really good at what i do and it would be harder for them to find somebody to replace me. When asked what I expect when I am hired, I tell them I am currently making such and such and want no less. I always say around 1.00 more than I am really making so that if they want me and only give me what I am currently making, I make a 1.00 more an hour. Don't settle. And don't grow roots. Unless that is all there is around you.

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