Is there any weight to MDS "certification?"

[IMABSNRN]

I'm not an mds coordinator, but I've been interested in learning and perhaps landing a mds coordinator position somewhere one of these days. The current mds coordinator where I work is always more than willing to let me help her with summaries, updating careplans and gathering information and entering it on the computer. I'm still fuzzy on RAPS and RUG levels but I'm excited about learning. I was thinking about going to one of these 3-day mds certification workshops.I mentioned it to one of my fellow nurses (who isn't known for being exactly positive in the first place) and she says that sounds stupid, because you don't need a certification to be a mds coordinator in the first place, and anyway, Nurse Goodbody won't be leaving her mds coordinator position until they carry her stiff body out of that office, which probably won't be for at least another 160 yrs.. I'm not out to take her job, but that's another topic.

Anyway, the workshop isn't cheap and I'm not sure if it is for people who already have a pretty good grasp on the mds specialty or if the info. would be tailored to newbies.

And does the certification really carry much weight?

[OhCanadaRPN]

to clarify,

an rpn (registered practical nurse) in ontario canada is legislated to be able to assess. the college of nurses of ontario has, and now i'm talking generally and not quoting) recognized that rpn's and rn's may have pursued education above and beyond their initial training.

each nurse (rpn or rn or higher) must work within their abilities to perform the function and are responsible for their own practice.

i, for example as an rpn can competently assess wounds, pain management, palliative care, educate mds (us and canada..happy dance..just passed my 3.0 rac-ct!:dncgbby:) and am comfortable in my own level of expertise in each of these areas. once the assessment/care planning is out of the scope of understanding, experience and education i have i then start with referrals to those professional that have the experience; i.e. rn, rd, pt, ot, md etc.

funny to see this commonality between both countries. be proud of your nursing designation and work to learn, learn, learn!

ask questions, apply your knowledge and seek out help. another commonality…our residents are well cared for!

thank you to all levels of nurses! i am proud of my accomplishments and proud that you strive to meet yours!

[MDSqueen]

Not all nurses are good at all things, RN or LPN. I replaced our RN mds coordinator after she told state she didn't know the RAP section was in the back of the MDS manual and that they had to be done. She thought it was optional. We have since had re survey and they loved my work. Kudos to all those who can please the Residents, the state and the corp money counters.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

In NYS an RN must do the MDS.

[a.sparks90]

You can work as MDS Coordinator without certification. You don't learn MDS over night. Even if you go online and get certified, you will still need to take that knowledge and apply it to all your residents. You need to monitor schedules for all your residents. This isn't tought in the certification. They teach you how to do an MDS, not 135 of them on a timely basis. Having said all that, I just completed my AANAC Cert for 3.0. I learned a lot and feel basically prepared for the changes. Also, my job wants the MDS person to be certified within a year of employment. I'm excited that I got my cert done, but my first job as MDS Coordinator was in 2000, no certification. It was on the job training. Someone on this posting said it was in the eye of the beholder, I'll agree because I'm all excited I did it. Is it going to get me a raise, no. My advise is, you want to do MDS, you have to start somewhere and start from the beginning. I trained a friend, we started with section A worked down through W. She's on her own today but is still learning. ME TOO. So if you do get the certification, you will learn, but you will also have to learn by doing and experiencing what it means to work many of them, not just A mds. Good luck to you :-)

[a.sparks90]

One more thing to add to my posting below, you get certified you can put RAC-CT on you name badge. That's going to be cool (for me). It denotes a basic knowledge of what your doing. I happen to work with some people that believe those around them are "stupid". So I will admit here to a certain amount of bragger's rights. But that is an internal problem. The whole point of certification is education. Thanks for letting vent just a bit.

[a.sparks90]

LVNs (LPNs) do MDSs all the time, they get AANAC Certified. RN DON doesn't want to spend all day doing MDSs. MDS Coordibator is a full time job. They don't have time to float on the unit or do all those other duties as assigned. We are good at what we do.

[a.sparks90]

I have great respect for RNs. I am from te old school where the RN out ranked and was to be respected at all times. I still believe in that. I am an LVN I do MDSs. Right now my job doesn't even have a DON. If it wasn't for myself and my cooworker, there wouldnt be any MDSs. The Regional RN Interim DON signs that they are complete. If the company had difficulties with LVNs doing MDSs they would hire all RNs. Also, for the AANAC Cert, LVNs can be certified, but they can not get the trainer certificate. That requires an RN License. State Inspectors recognize that we are doing the assessment. We know what we need to do as weel as any other nurse with knowledge of the RAI Process.

[susanthomas1954]

Just to clarify...with 8 years of MDS experience, I feel that just about anyone who is motivated can learn to do an MDS, but it takes a lot more than that to do MY JOB! I have had the courage a couple of times to mention that to the regional "teams" that come to "help" by doing "audits" to show what's wrong with the MDS's. In eight years over 4 facilities, 6 if you count the ones I went to help when they were backlogged, I have never had a citation from a state survey. The first year I was in survey, I got some "technical guidance," and the second year, I had the state surveyor call the prior year's surveyor while I was standing there when she contradicted the prior year's surveyor (who was now her boss.) Since that day, I can't tell you how carefully they handle my MDS's, RAPS and care plans. I never answer their questions without a manual in hand. I also would never let my LPN co-workers face the state alone. I am happy to co-sign myLPN partner's work, and rarely have to question, but when I do, it is important, and he has been doing MDS's longer than me. We all learn every day, and MDS is the situation that defines that rule.

I love having anyone, LPN, MSW, BSW, dietician, activity director, rehab mgr or therapist, housekeeper or stuffed monkey take an interest in the MDS and care planning process, and I am not a control freak, but when you are doing an MDS on my patient-it had better be accurate.

I personally would like to see state laws be amended regarding LPN's and the MDS, but in the end of the care planning process, it needs to be overseen by an RN.

IMHO.

PS, we have a stuffed monkey who lives in our office, and he is the best MDS monkey in the world. His name is MDS MUNKY. We are assumed to be insane, and possibly dangerous when we allow Munky to play his drum set or ride his SUV around the office.