Does anyone like being and MDS coordinator?

demylenated, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2011

I thought most ppl didn't like it either. At the hospital, my lead nurse hated it. I would offer her my spare time to come in and just do MDS with her. I loved it... But, as someone else mentioned, a lot of other people WON'T like you because you have to critique their notes and charting.

I made it easy. I came up with a charting schedule for the month. Since we had 12 hours, and since some nurses don't know exactly what we need for MDS, I wrote it out for the month, so every aspect was touched on at least 2 times. For instance, the first monday of every month, days reported on Walking/Gait, and nights reported on toileting. Every day had one subject that they must chart on in addition to however they chart. It helped ensure that the nurses charted what I needed, and helped me know exactly what day/date to turn to to look for the information.

When I move to LTC, I was going to take over MDS there, but had to leave due to medical issues... had that not happened, I am sure I'd still be working it!

I loved doing it at the hosp though because I had the best of both worlds. I did MDS on the side (helping my lead nurse), and did direct patient care. I don't know if I could do MDS exclusively. I would have to have pt care in there somewhere (maybe an extra shift). I love pt care... but I really liked the MDS part, too... and I am not a paperwork kinda gal. I guess because it was fitting pt care into a puzzle, and making sure we were doing the care correctly according to guidelines.

Good luck!

~Demy

nursekpink · Jul 11, 2011

Hi there! I have been an MDS Coordinator for about a month now. I had NO prior MDS experience. I was six months into a Nurse Manager position on a LTC/Rehab unit (I also had no experience in management!) I was asked to fill that position because our MDS Coordinator was leaving. I got about 7 days of training. And we are about to be surveyed any day(I have also never been in a survey!) I love the job because I can avoid the drama and resident family members,lol. But I am so new to this position and feel that I was thrown to the wolves. We are a 120 bed facility and we have a 60 mixed bed rehab unit. I am frustrated that I have to take call all the time and have to miss morning team meeting and our weekly UR meeting. I am not getting paid any extra for taking this position and was told I may get a small raise upon receiving my certification. We have no unit manager on the rehab unit(since I was pulled to MDS) and our rehab charge nurse, wound care nurse and ADON are all out on medical leave so I am expected to help out with various duties in their abscence. I have 8 days of call on this month alone and because we are so short I have to take a cart when we have more than one call out. I feel that my position is too valuable for me to be pulled to the floor so often and still be expected to get assessments,CAAs and care plans done. And being a rehab unit with a high turnaround my calender is FULL and it's hard to keep track of admits,discharges and change of statuses. Part of me just wants to hang on long enough to get my certification and then find a job that doesn't require call! Thanks for letting me vent! It's been very therapeutic! Now I have to get to bed so I can work the cart in the am! Take care!

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2011

I loved it when I worked in TX...did it for about 5 or 6 years total, from the first computerized versions, and into PPS and that whole debacle.

I agree with enjoying the interaction with the residents, and knowing why facility decisions are made (not just administration coming up with ways to annoy everyone- lol).

Family careplan meetings could be LONG days, but most families were great to work with.