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Discussion

MDS coordinator position

I am a 4 year RN, 14 year LPN mainly working long term care with some hospital, and home care experience who is tired of floor nursing, with an interest in learning about the MDS. Mainly tired of the lazy floor staff that our state facility tolerates. :mad: I just went for an MDS coordinator interview yesterday at a small 60 bed facility in the next town, and it went very well. They would like me to shadow the ADON who is currently doing the MDS to see how her day goes. This nursing home has been deficiency free for 2 years. I would be on call every 3rd weekend and said I could set my own schedule as long as it was 40 hours a week and they are willing to train me. There is a probationary period of 3 months. She told me the ADON would be training me and the support would be there if I need it. I am a dependable, detail oriented person. I like things done the "right" way. I don't know if I would feel comfortable being completely responsible for MDS's and 5day, 7 day, 14 day, 30 day, 60 day assessments being submitted on time. The facility is mostly medicaid with some medicare. It is a non for profit facility. I have only completed pain assessments, bowel and bladder assessments and sleep assessments on the MDS and don't have a problem with these. I really would like to give this position a chance if it it offered but am scared I might screw it up somehow like forgetting to assess someone if they needed or not getting information in on time and the facility lost some funding. Any thoughts or input from others would really be appreciated. Thank You.

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    If you are interested in learning the MDS Process, it would be better to learn in a small facility such as this.

    If they have offered to train you, that's great because honestly, most facilities won't consider hiring an MDS Coordinator with no experience.

    Give it a try....you will find out real quick if it's something you will like or not.

    Once you become experienced, you can go anywhere and get an MDS Position....MDS Coordinators are in demand!

    While reading your post, other things came to mind....such as....On call every 3rd weekend (that may be OK with you now with your recent floor experience, but you will find real soon that you are very busy with MDS work)....also....working in a small facility will probably mean that you have to "wear many hats" which usually means more work for the MDS Dept.

    You will most likely be given the "Teamplayer Speech" when others need help, but when it comes to getting your MDS work done on time there's usually no "Team" to be found....ask me how I know....

    I consider MDS work to be a "pressure cooker" job....we do much more than "input data" as many think!

    Good Luck!! ;)

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    I agree with the previous post. MDS nurses often do other duties such as infection control, skins, etc. Be sure to ask plenty of questions if they allow you to 'shadow' her. Depending on what exactly she's doing for the MDS position, she may not be doing exactly what your job duties will entail.

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    • Author

    Thank You both for your input. I've decide to take the job and give it a try. I'm going to stay in house pool at the facility I'm currently at so if things don't work out, I have something to fall back on. I'm excited and nervous about it, wish me luck. Blessings.

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    1964nurse....Good Luck! As I said before, if MDS works out for you, you will be in demand!

    Keep us updated! :)

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