MDS Coordinator Skills-organization

[crnacc]

I have a 16 bed skilled area that I complete mds on. We have 160 bed facility and i can have skilled patients in any of the other beds also. I look up information on admits-dx, continency, what aides should monitor for, any restrictions; i.e. ortho weight bearing, glasses, dentures, hearing aides-write this on a care guide that is placed in room for aides to review. I complete admission care plans, entry mds, keep skilled patient log up to date along with certification QI. I also do all the interviews in my area. We have a lot of turnover, short stay patients, and I find it difficult to keep up at times so wondered if anyone had any organizational skill ideas. I recently had someone that did MDS for rest of facility and helped with my 16 bed icf unit, which i got my butt chewed out today for as now admin wants to give me more elder assessments to do, but i am not doing all of my workload. The gal that left told admin that one mds coordinator was all that was needed. So, I need some guidance-maybe I spend too much time writing stuff down, too much time on CAAs; any suggestions???? Thank you!!!!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

160 beds and you're the only MDS nurse? Doesn't seem like anyone could get all their work done organized or not.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

That's insane. The worst assignment I ever dealt with was 40 residents divided by skilled (10 beds) young adult psych (15 beds) and custodial care (15 beds). That psych unit was the worst---it seemed like I had to change the care plans every few days with those folks---and of course SNF was quite busy with admissions and discharges. I was barely able to keep up with that workload.....I can't even imagine having four times that number to keep track of.

[4boysmama]

I'm confused - are you the on MDS for the entire building, or just for the 16 bed skilled unit? I'm getting to indea that it's the 16 bed skilled that you're responsible for, and it's that work that you're behind on. Honestly, that amount of work should be manageable. The tuff that you are writing down -what is it? Do you have some standardized forms or checklists that will make it easier to record the info you are recording?