Accepted job as MDS nurse but skeptical!

[tattooednurse26]

I recently accepted a job as a MDS nurse at a LTC facility. Ive been pretty skeptical most of my 2nd day of orientation because I'm not sure if they are going to pull me to be a floor nurse. I asked the DON about what does orientation entail and who will be training me for MDS but she hasnt answered me yet. She keeps telling me she'll talk to me later. I'm getting pretty frustrated because I accepted the job for the schedule and the chance to learn MDS not be a floor nurse which I've been for 3 years already. Oh yeah did I mention I took a pay cut accepting this job as well? So my logic is if I'm going to be on the floor then I can go back to my old job and make more money doing it. Plus I'm new to MDS so I'll need alot of training from what other nurses have told me. Any advice is greatly appreciated! So far all I've done is train at a med cart and watch training videos on how to work the computer system.

Thanks!

[NurseMellie]

It is difficult to learn the MDS especially when the training is hit and miss. I often had those same types of days in the beginning of my training. I would be pulled to do an admit or work the floor so it was a bit difficult to put some of the things you needed to remember all into play. If you are on your 2nd day of orientation to the MDS, what did you do on the first? Is this a new facility for you? I think you need to know the facility you are at inside and out before you can effectively care for your residents.