New as an MDS Coordinator

Will you be working with another MDS Nurse who will be training you?
Check with your State MDS Coordinator to see if they offer training for new MDS Nurses. Also, I would highly recommend ANAAC Certification.

I agree you need to make sure that you will be training with someone for a while and I would definitely check into a state training course. They usually offer a beginner's course. I would also try to figure out how the MDS affects your facilities pay. In NC we are paid by how certain things are answered on the MDS and whether we followed the documentation guidelines, and a couple other things but... of course administration is going to be wanting you to make sure that they are getting the most money possible. But I honestly don't know if it is different for different states?? The best advice I can give you though is to go in knowing it is a hard position so don't be hard on yourself. It will probably take you a good year to get to a point that you feel comfortable. Make sure that you get phone numbers of support people and call them...don't feel like there is too silly of a question. Best of luck to you. I will help answer any questions I can...I worked in that position for 5 years and have trained a couple people. Now gearing up to learn 3.0