Is there any weight to MDS "certification?"

Specialties MDS

Published

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?

LPN here also and am the coordinator and have trained a few RNs to help me. You dont have to be RN to be one and its doesnt make you any better at MDS's either. Last I checked they dont teach MDS in ANY nsg program And my company paid for my RAC-CT too. Plus the RN that was the coordinator left 2years ago and since I have been it, our rate have gone up! ALOT so......

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unless the "certifying" agency/organization is also the regulatory agency, the most important "fact" you should get out of an mds fortification (or certification) course is--

the prime, or premier, or primary source (or resource) for mds and pps requirements is free and freely distributed by the regulatory agency, cms.

the most important information a certification course should give you is

neither my opinion, nor that of my organization "counts"--nor should it guide your practice. the facts, resources, and references that you will need are located at:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/nursinghomequalityinits/25_nhqimds30.asp
and
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/snf.asp

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
LPN here also and am the coordinator and have trained a few RNs to help me. You dont have to be RN to be one and its doesnt make you any better at MDS's either. Last I checked they dont teach MDS in ANY nsg program And my company paid for my RAC-CT too. Plus the RN that was the coordinator left 2years ago and since I have been it, our rate have gone up! ALOT so......

You HAVE to be an RN to sign the R2B...sorry if you don't like it. It's called an ASSESSMENT and LPN's can't by law, at least in my state, do assessments.

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You HAVE to be an RN to sign the R2B...sorry if you don't like it. It's called an ASSESSMENT and LPN's can't by law, at least in my state, do assessments.

First it has nothing to do withg me liking it or not. Yes, you have in be a RN to sign but not do a MDS. Second IF it was against the law one would think that it would state that in the manual, which it doesnt.:banghead: The point was you dont have to be a RN to be great at MDS!

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Specializes in LTC, sub-acute, MDS.
You HAVE to be an RN to sign the R2B...sorry if you don't like it. It's called an ASSESSMENT and LPN's can't by law, at least in my state, do assessments.

LPN MDS Coordinator for five years and counting....with never an MDS tag at survey....RN unit managers sign at R2B. This is a stupid regulation since MDS has been automated/computerized....the software tells you if the "assessment"/DATA COLLECTION TOOL is compete. Any monkey can check to see if all the boxes are checked and completed!

If you've worked in LTC for any amount of time, you'd know that LPN's do assessments all the time...we are certianly capable, and furthermore, it's expected of us, no matter what the rule says....all facilities get around this by having the RN sign off. I even know an LPN who functions as the ADON. :smokin:

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was an LPN for several years and no lpns cannot assess. after doing all the dirty work in admissions and other things i had to find the RN to sign off or counter sign with me. after the indignities and feeling sorry for myself i woke up and now i have my bachelors in nursing and am currently a masters degree student. we also had an LPN was a unit manager but whenever the state survey comes she would be on 'vacation' and an RN would take over. LPN's cannot assess and give patient teaching that is the law.

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:twocents: :twocents: Tis funny--the MDS, itself, can be completed by any healthcare worker who is trained to complete it. It's up to the facility to decide who is qualified.

If so, is it truly an "assessment"? (in the professional sense)

The RN is supposed to "conduct (lead, manage, organize) or coordinate" the MDS data collection and assure that all is completed--sounds like a task for a scheduler or unit clerk to me.

YES--perhaps RAPPING is a professional "task"--but how many nurses actually RAP/plan with other professionals? A recent A __ __ __ C survey reported that 75% of the nurses who responded did the RAPs themselves. Both the RNs and LPNs I know say they LOOK at notes, LOOK at the MDS, and write a summary--no extra thinking--they don't have time. All triggers are problems to proceed to CP. Who has time to take a professional approach with other professionals to figure out the real problems??

So our nurse practice acts say that only the RN can "assess", synthesize the findings, develop a "diagnosis", and create an initial plan--other disciplines have similar practice acts for the "professional."

But unless RNs and other "professionals" step up--care enough to use their knowledge and degrees, neither the "law" nor CMS will ensure a thorough assessment, thoughtful problem identification, and evidence-based plan for success.

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Hello, I was wondering if anybody can give me information regarding MDS certification. I live in San Francisco. Is it better to take an online class or in person. Thank you so much for your time. I hope to hear your responds. By the way I'm an RN.

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Hello, I was wondering if anybody can give me information regarding MDS certification. I live in San Francisco. Is it better to take an online class or in person. Thank you so much for your time. I hope to hear your responds. By the way I'm an RN.

Me too, I am a RN and i am looking for MDS certification class, I am in San Diego, CA.

Thanks in advance

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No offense but you're an LPN? So you can't be the MDS assessment coordinator or even sign the MDS as complete because you're not an RN. And your company is still sending you to the class?? You must be good at what you do.

Just because she is not an RN, she can't be a MDS Coordinator. I am RPN too here in Canada and working as a MDS Coordinator for two years and our company have been so proud of my accomplishment, sending me to different homes to provide assistance with their MDS implementation. And the last two consecutive years, we have "zero" findings from the surveyor.

I have seen RN [with years of experience like yours] struggled with the concept of MDS. Critical thinking was completely out of the window particularly when they're doing RAP :eek: and trying my best to connect the dot when reading their care plans :uhoh3:. I have few RNs who actually resigned from their position just to escape doing MDS, not knowing it is a requirement for each LTC facility, placement agencies, hospitals, including mental health.

So, do not think just because a nurse is an RN, he/she knows everything and better than an LPN. it's only a title. I will stick with what's inside a person's head.

Peace out!

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I was trained as a "stand-in" for our MDS coordinator when she went on pregnancy leave ( I was 8 months out of school ). She was a LPN, and was AWESOME :). She was very competent and willing to learn if she didnt' know the answer. Just because you have RN behind your name just means you can SIGN more stuff/do stuff some w/ a lower degree can not "legally" do that they could probably do w/ training in a second!Nothing is ever equal.

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Just because she is not an RN, she can't be a MDS Coordinator. I am RPN too here in Canada and working as a MDS Coordinator for two years and our company have been so proud of my accomplishment, sending me to different homes to provide assistance with their MDS implementation. And the last two consecutive years, we have "zero" findings from the surveyor.

I have seen RN [with years of experience like yours] struggled with the concept of MDS. Critical thinking was completely out of the window particularly when they're doing RAP :eek: and trying my best to connect the dot when reading their care plans :uhoh3:. I have few RNs who actually resigned from their position just to escape doing MDS, not knowing it is a requirement for each LTC facility, placement agencies, hospitals, including mental health.

So, do not think just because a nurse is an RN, he/she knows everything and better than an LPN. it's only a title. I will stick with what's inside a person's head.

Peace out!

i was an lpn for 5 years and was better than a lot of RN's but that does not matter, in this country the law is the law, an lpn cannot assess or teach or sign some certain things. an RN delegates to an LPN not the other way around. some hospitals in nj have fired or demoted their LPNs to techs. its about the degree not the experience. if a nurse can do better than a doctor should she be put in the place of a doctor?. if the nurse has 30 years experience and the doctor has 1 yr experience whose signature bares more weight?. i saw all this and instead of complaining i went back to school to get a BSN and now am doing my masters program to be a nurse practitioner.

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