MDS concerns

[LPN NC]

I am new nurse, LPN with less than two years experience was offered MDS position got decent raise and supposedly better schedule. However I am in a facility that has average of 140-150 residents. We have myself and a FT RN as MDS. I can do all the assessments and can do care plans, however can not sign off on care plans. SO have to print so the RN can sign off on the care plans and need to be "supervised" while creating them. I also can't sign off on one section of the assessments. I love the position, did accounting before nursing so am detail oriented and think it is huge opportunity for LPN especially new nurse. Am currently back in school, as they have pushed me to work on my RN. However the facility I work for, has me on call very often and always pulls me to the hall even when I am not on call. It is frustrating, we also have management and personnel issues. No one really does their jobs, we have no wound nurse and all of this stuff effects my ability to do my job accurately. I do get compensated well I think considering where I live and my limited experience but feel I do a very good job and have been ready to leave this position and have asked them to put me back as a hall nurse because I have addressed the issues numerous times with my DON and Admin and not much help. We are constantly pushed to do things too quickly and things change constantly so it is frustrating. I could love this position in a company that valued their employees and that was consistent. I just feel I am getting burned out and they won't fix the issues in management. Any ideas or thoughts? I mean I really am blessed but am frustrated with the way things are run and how it all comes back down to me doing my job effectively.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

They are biting the hand that feeds them. MDS nurses should be the last one up to pinch hit.

[LTCNS, LPN]

I agree 100% with Ruas61. What is it with management these days that they expect one single MDS Nurse to work miracles, then turn around and punish the poor soul when he/she is doing the best they can do while trying to juggle the other tasks delegated to them? What happened to management support?

As a MDS Nurse I've rarely been pulled to the floor in past jobs and so far have not been pulled at my current job. Things get one day behind and you're screwed. Bad thing is, everything was two months behind when I started my new job, but guess who's fault it is? Mine...All mine...But I digress.