Responsible for being on call ?

In the facility I just resigned from, there are 3 nurses on call - the MDS, wound, and restorative nurses. The DON & ADON are not. (I've heard that it's because they are on call for IV's whenever we have them inhouse, and there isn't someone on staff that shift, to do them)
My replacement was handed an 'on call' schedule before I left, and there were several days during her week that she was going to have to work the floor (mostly partial shifts) because of lack of staffing. She was furious.

We have a consultant group, that comes in for 2 days every month, and picks apart all the MDS's that I completed, finding where we could of made more money if I changed the ARD, sometimes they spend hours reviewing and digging to find a MD appointment I missed in the consult papers that didnt make it in to the chart. Then they present their findings in front of me to the DON and the Administrator. It makes me feel so degraded. I try to tell myself that the consultants have to find something to keep their job, and sometimes they want me to code ADL for higher points that I will not, and it always makes me look bad. Like I dont have enough stress with dead lines. My boss tells me that the consultants are here to help and for me to learn from, yeah right, they put me on the defensive, can't learn in that environment.

I love digging and making that extra point, I started this job thinking each MDS was a challenge, now I sort of face it with regret. I feel like a lone nurse, not sure where to fit in. I can't fit in with the nurses on the floor, because I dont do "all"they do, and they don't understand "all"that I do.

We are a good bunch, we the money maker, MDS nurse. I want to feel appreciated, but I do only when we all talk to each other. Sorry that I rambled on a bit, but it is so easy when you have others that understand, and I know you are reading this and nodding.

I had worked from 3/4/08 to 10/3/08 without being on call, or working the floor - then there was an 'executive' decision to have those things added to my job description. It was stated that being on call & working the floor was always a part of my job description, but it was never put into effect.
So, when they did put it into effect, I resigned.
I figured this: I could do the job of any of those floor nurses if I needed/wanted to, but not one of them could do my job!! So why should my work suffer & get behind, to help work the floor -- nobody ever 'helped' me if I needed a hand.

I also took a job as MDS Cordnator. it would have been fine if I had more than 1 day a week to accomplish 5 days of work... I was continually pulled to the cart as they were always short. to get my work done I was working 16 hours a day. I found another job and gave my resignation.

Well I guess I'm lucky not to have to take the cart during the week. Unit managers or treatment nurse fill in. We are lucky to have very few call outs. Maybe due to the fact that we have Baylor weekends. But I agree, MDS nurses "get no respect" mainly in the sense that they HAVE NO IDEA what we really do. Sometimes I wish there was money in the budget so that each nurse could shadow us for a day or two....... I'm on call this coming weekend and already keeping my fingers crossed....

What is a Baylor weekend, Bedpan? LOL I'll say a pray for you this weekend to. I love that shadow idea. I figured it out, I have to attend 3 days full of meetings every week. Leaving me 2 days to do my MDS job, and they recently were kind enough to give me, Case Management of Insured and Cut letters contact. Lucky me....dont all of you be jealouse now....

Hi Debbie, Baylor is 12 hour shifts on Sat. and Sun. with pay for 36 hrs w/ full time benefits....