Offer to be MDS nurse

poohmdsnurse · Jul 21, 2009

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT .... wait until you have been a nurse for at least a while. It is not a peachy ( Mon-Fri no weekends or holidays) believe me I have spent many weekend days here working to keep caught up ... it is not as peachy as they are making it seem...take it from me. :eek:

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2009

I would advise not at this point in your career. The only thing that might sway my advice is if they sent you to a class and had a mentor.

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2009

Wow.. Can't believe they would ever ever ever consider a grad with 3 weeks experience for this position. Unbelievable. You have no experience to know any better, but the people above you should and apparently they don't. I am afraid you would be setting yourself up for failure and never even know what happened. Get some experience first. (If I was hiring for this position I would only consider someone with 2-3 years of long term care experience).

This position has a heavy influence of the financial stability of the facility, sets standards of care practice via careplanning, is intensely scrutinized by surveyors, etc.

Moogie · Aug 4, 2009

Your experience as a social worker is definitely a plus, but I concur with the other posters that you need experience as a nurse before taking on this role.

It's a huge red flag that they're offering this position to a new graduate and an even bigger one that they're replaced the ED and DON within the past month. I'd also be concerned that they're hiring inexperienced department heads. What's their rationale? Are they trying to replace experienced, more expensive workers with neophytes who will work for less? Are they looking for people who are less experienced so they can "mold" them to their way of thinking? Are they looking for someone to abuse, to blame when things go wrong---to throw under the bus? Do they want "yes people" who will work hard but won't have the experience to know when a situation is bad---and might not be assertive enough to complain?

Jobs are hard to find, but I'm not sure I'd want to work in a facility like that. :twocents:

mercury7 · Aug 11, 2009

Hello,

I am a New Graduate as well and have been offered a position in a small Nevada SNF to become an "MDS Nurse." In the position I am to operate as a floater "charge nurse" for the SNF but my primary purpose will be to perform the MDS role. They advised that they will be "investing training and certification" for me. Should I consider this offer? I haven't done any floor work before but with training would I be able to perform the MDS role?

mercury7 · Aug 11, 2009

Also, did you end up accepting the position?

Moogie · Aug 11, 2009

Hello,
I am a New Graduate as well and have been offered a position in a small Nevada SNF to become an "MDS Nurse." In the position I am to operate as a floater "charge nurse" for the SNF but my primary purpose will be to perform the MDS role. They advised that they will be "investing training and certification" for me. Should I consider this offer? I haven't done any floor work before but with training would I be able to perform the MDS role?

How small?

Honest, as a new grad I would be wary. It's going to be tough enough to just acclimate yourself to the first year of being a nurse without the extra duties of MDS and charge. It also sounds to me like they want you to be a Jill (or Jack) of all trades, and that might mean you would not have adequate time to do your MDS duties---and those HAVE to be done or else the facility can face penalties (meaning it's YOUR butt in trouble.)

mercury7 · Aug 11, 2009

Moogie-

Thanks for your weariness, it's helping me to sort everything out about the position. It's a 24 bed SNF so it's the smallest I've ever seen.

They advised they wanted to really train me to be the "MDS Nurse" so I assume I would be doing that the majority of time and be used to float if they were ever short-handed.

Veggiegirl73 · Aug 11, 2009

Thanks for everyone's responses! I actually have not had to make a decision yet. They've allowed me to finish my orientation on the floor and to get to know the facility better before making a final decision. There is an interim MDS nurse at the facility so their isn't a giant rush to hire someone more permanent. It is a 90 bed facility.

Taking on the financial piece and handling the surveyors are not a big concern for me. This is similar to what I have done in the past. I'm mostly concerned that I am not experienced as a nurse. Will I be able to recognize what needs to be done better/ differently, etc. I have discovered in the past few weeks that I am frustrated with not already knowing my job! (: I know the MDS position will require quite a large learning curve but I also know that there are manuals and policies in place that I can look up the answers in plus having the support of the regional MDS person in the organization. There is a part time MDS coordinator who will stay in her position and she has been primarily in charge of keeping all of the schedules.

Anyway, I'll keep you updated as to what happens!

iheartangelinajolie · Aug 25, 2009

Hello....

I am currently an MDS Coordinator assistant. I am an LVN and I worked on the floor for 6 months (I HATED working on the floor :banghead: ) before I was promoted to the MDS department :typing. My boss has been in MDS for 2 years and she teaches me everything through trial and error. Currently I have had this position for 6 months and I must say that my floor experience prepared me for MDS. I suggest you stay on the floor longer because the MDS position is not stable and you may need to go back on the floor. Also, by working on the floor you understand the chart better and you are better prepared for assessments. Please keep us updated on your decision =) :yeah: