MDS courses through AANAC

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I'm thinking about taking MDS courses through the AANAC website. I have no experience with MDS and have no idea which program I should start with. 2.0 or 3.0??? (i'm clueless). Which module should I begin with?

Thanks

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Specializes in MDS/Office.

Personally, I would go the 3.0 route.

Any MDS with an ARD of 10/1 & later will be 3.0. :twocents:

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Thanks! Like I mentioned before I'm clueless about MDS. I'm looking into other nursing avenues other than bedside nursing. I don't know how much longer my poor back will hold up.

So, I'm going to start the MDS 3.0 and maybe take the C-NE. At the moment I'm taking Case Management. Just trying to cover all my options. :-)

Thanks again!

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Thanks! Like I mentioned before I'm clueless about MDS. I'm looking into other nursing avenues other than bedside nursing. I don't know how much longer my poor back will hold up.

So, I'm going to start the MDS 3.0 and maybe take the C-NE. At the moment I'm taking Case Management. Just trying to cover all my options. :-)

Thanks again!

Do you have any experience in long term care? I would think it would still be hard to find a job as an MDS coordinator without prior LTC experience. No offense but I wouldn't hire you even if you were certified.

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I'm sure what part of my original post resulted in your reply. I was simply asking a question about MDS courses. Not whether or not you or anyone else will hire me. Thanks for reminding me why I rarely post anymore.

Do you have any experience in long term care? I would think it would still be hard to find a job as an MDS coordinator without prior LTC experience. No offense but I wouldn't hire you even if you were certified.
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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
I'm sure what part of my original post resulted in your reply. I was simply asking a question about MDS courses. Not whether or not you or anyone else will hire me. Thanks for reminding me why I rarely post anymore.

Ooops, put the claws away as I certainly didn't intend for such a defensive reply! I simply asked if you had any experience in LTC (to which you did not respond). I just don't see the point in getting "certified" in an area if you don't have a reasonable chance of being employed. Maybe I am being naive, but it would be similar to me getting certification as an ICU nurse but never having worked a day in my life on the unit. That would just be silly and a waste of time. It is my personal opinion that I would never hire a certified MDS coordinator that had never stepped inside a SNF unit.

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The AANAC 3.0 course is a great start, after October 1st we will all be new. The 3.0 is going to be bringing some big changes and I believe the first month will be trial and error. So go for it, I do think it looks good on a resume that someone took the course on their own. Good Luck

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Specializes in long term care - MDS.

I think any courses you take even just for the exposure are useful. It seems you are familiar with aanac and know that it's not inexpensive to become certified, whether you join the association or not. Probably several hundred dollars. Try one of the basic courses to start with and see how you like it. If you decide to try long term care, at least you will have more of an understanding as to what the mds is, what documentation is needed and how important it is to give examples. Our administrator, don, wound nurse and nsg supervisor had to come along for the two day training. It might have been useful for the sdc to come along for background on the inservices we will need to do on a continuous basis. good luck. i think more mds nurses will be needed in the future to help out and to replace us aging dinosaurs.:twocents:

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Katoline,

I do have have long term care experience. For some reason it is assumed that I do not. When I worked for the VA I worked acute care and LTC. We had a 30 bed nursing home. The financial side of it is what I know nothing about. I will be starting a position with a LTC/assisted (non-federal) living facility soon.

Thank you so much for your reply. :-)

Christy

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Specializes in long term care - MDS.

Christy, you are so right! Never asume, it makes an ___ out of u and me! Did you learn that one in nursing school?

good luck with whatever you decide, i'm sure you'll be an asset. sharon

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Here is a list of AANAC seminars around the country

http://blog.harmony-healthcare.com/mds-30-and-rugs-iv-seminars/

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I'm thinking about taking MDS courses through the AANAC website. I have no experience with MDS and have no idea which program I should start with. 2.0 or 3.0??? (i'm clueless). Which module should I begin with?

Thanks

Did you start any MDS program yet Christy? I heard the AANAC is the best route to go =-)

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