MDS Cordinator

I am a MDS nurse. I came into the job when one of our nurses went on maternity leave. They asked me to step in and help do them with the other nurse in that office. Then about 6 months later the nurse who had the baby went to work somewhere else, so since I knew some about the job, they offered it to me.

I like it. It is really flexible hours. You are basically doing assessments on the patients on how much assistance is given to them for their ALDs et functioning. Our Social Worker does her part with the mood et behaviors. The dietician keeps track of the weights, diets, ect. And we also report number of meds, hospital stays, ER visits. You are basically looking at the client as a whole and getting it together for payment. When you compile all of that information they will come out in a RUG catagory and that will tell you how much you are reimbursed from Medicare/Medicaid for that person. It is then submitted to state for payment. We are also in charge of the clients care plans and getting them together and making sure they are updated PRN. They are done on a quarterly basis. It is a lot of paperwork and if your facility case mix score is not where your administrator wants it to be (which means your reimbursement rate is not as high as they would like) they all look to you to fix it magically.

I have been doing it for about a year now and I really like it. It takes a while to learn the system and I hope that I have been more helpful than confusing to you. Maybe someone else would be able to explain it better. There is a MDS forum on the site that you could check out for more info. If you click on specialty up at the top of the page and pick nursing specialities then you scroll down and it will take you to MDS.

Is there anyone else with insight on an MDS Coordinator position?
I've been offered this in a LTC facility - I have absolutely no experience in it - and am very unsure if it's going to be 'my cup of tea'.
Wages would be $19/hr. And they said they'd give me like 3 weeks of basic training.
There's this huge knot in the pit of my stomach -- but my family doesn't understand why. They think this job will be physically better for me (I've had both hips repaired & really need a job where I'm not on my feet as much). I've always been a Hands On nurse in the LTC setting, and don't know if paperwork aspect is for me. Tara

Tara I have been an MDS nurse for 1 1/2 years now and when I started I knew only what MDS stood for. If you like flexibility in hours its great it you like variety its great every facility has its own policy on how much hands on stuff you do. I took two weeks and just read the RAI manual cover to cover otherwise it has been on the job training after about 9 mos on the job I took the 3 day aanac certification course and it helped alot. One thing is certain you must like doing paperwork in order to do this job. I enjoy not working weekends and holidays and it fit everything I wanted to do in my nursing career at this time in my life Good luck

Well, I have a day & a half to make a decision about the MDS position.
My Mom thinks I should go for it - and if after some time, if I feel it's not for me, apologize to them and let them find someone else.
It's just a whole new career path, and makes feel 'out of my element'.
Thanks for your input - I appreciate it. Tara

Tara I agree with your mom if it interests you go for it Just know that it will take some time to learn the MDS and be comfortable with it. The only difficulty I see for you would be from your fellow co-workers if you have any sort of supervisory duties ( I share call with the nurse managers and act as ADON at times when my DON is off. I also step in for the nurse managers if they are off or if god for bid one of them quits. Good luck in your decision
Brenda

What did you decide to do?
I did MDS 's for two different facilities. The first one I was the charge nurse and had t ocover Iv's , make assignments along wiht it. If it involves any kind of mangement of staff with it I woudl say run...
The second place I just did the MDS, care planning and care conference. It was a nice break from floor nursing. Mt hours were flexible.
The actual assessment is not hard. You just use the assessment skills and each level is assigned a number from dependant to indepandant level of funtioning.

Well, I accepted the position/challenge!! The administrator had me stop in yesterday, and pick up the MDS/RAI Manual (that they downloaded off of the internet for me). Holy Cow! I start on Tuesday - but I hope they don't think I'm going to get all this read by then. LOL. I feel overwhelmed, and haven't even started looking at the manual yet.
Part of my problem would be that I don't have any 'sample' or outdated patient MDS' to compare the manual with -- does anyone have an idea where I can find one to download from the internet??
Thanks to everyone for your input/advice. Tara

Oh, I forgot: The DON stated I have been hired to do MDS work - and would only be used as a floor nurse in an emergency. He also added that the previous MDS person didn't work on the floor during her employment there.
There was no mention of having to supervise or be a part of the managment team - but I also wasn't given a 'job description' per se - so I hope they don't expect that, or I'll be back on the unemployed list again.
Tara

Do you mean a hardcopy of the MDS?
All the different types of MDS forms -- http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NursingHomeQu...DSAllForms.pdf
The resident's chart should have a printed MDS or just print out a completed MDS from your system.