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

Specializes in LTC QI MDS.

I would take the RAC-3.0 through AANAC. I just finished my tests online last month. I took the course locally and it wasn't the best so if I had to do over again I would take the course online and then test online. Good luck!:nurse:

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Specializes in Assessment coordinator.

A colleague of mine told me his wife will be taking a week-end seminar on 3.0, and then look for a job as an MDS co-ordinator. She has never completed an MDS before. I wonder what my boss would think if she applied for a job with our dep't?

I wouldn't want to go to a surgeon who took a weekend course in hip replacements and wants to start doing them next week, but I wonder whether administrators would really get it that you don't want this person working on your re-imbursement team.........

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Specializes in long term care - MDS.

I agree,Susan. The courses are hard enough for us seasoned nurses, but informative if not in a "hurry up and get it done" mode so the company can look good.

I would suggest anyone having an influence on the MDS to take a course, whether thru AANAC, MDS Guru or AIS i think. It helps to know what is needed for the completion and support of the "reimbursement" assessment as one company i worked for bluntly but truthfully called it.

I would welcome a seasoned nurse new to MDS who had taken a course if they were an addition to an already established dept. They could do the entry/reentry and cumbersome discharges that don't effect payment to start with. I haven't heard anything about the promised revisit to the number of man hours needed either here or at another company i am familiar with. Has anyone else gotten any additional help since 3.0?

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I haven't started taking any courses yet. I'm in the process of finishing my BSN and will be done in 4 weeks. The MDS coordinator in our facility is excited that I'm interested in taking the classes.

Did you start any MDS program yet Christy? I heard the AANAC is the best route to go =-)
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Hey Christy: So how are things going? Did you take some online courses? I totally get your frustration in a previous response. You ask one question and for some reason this site has a tendency to have responders answering about things you didn't even ask about!! (ie - they wouldn't hire you if you had no LTC experience! OMG!) Personally I prefer to be more supportive.

Anyway, I've typically worked in hospitals, but went to a SNF for awhile and it was quite an experience. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to work at a hospital or at a SNF - just dedication with whatever you end up doing.

Anyway, hope you found the courses helped. I am a case mgr at a hospital, but was really thinking about taking some of those 3.0 courses and make a switch. I want more flexibility than I have now and one nearby SNF has an opening. Will see what happens. Good luck to you!

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Thanks!

I just finished two courses with AANAC and will be starting the RAC-CT 3.0 certification courses next week. The two I have already taken were just to get the feel for what is required.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Community Care Nursing, CCM.

I too am wanting whatever affordable exposure I can get with MDS. I found a link for a free MDS 2.0 interactive website, but had a severe computer crash, had to wipe everything off my hard drive an dstart over, so now I cannot find the link. If anyone knows what I am referring to, please leave me a message.

I recently passed the ANCC Case Management exam in December 2011, and I have 8 years of geriatric long term care insurance case management and care coordination experience, but I still can't get a job with any of the major players like BCBCS, UHC, or Aetna, not matter how many times I apply. So Christy, I do understand what you are saying. I even applied for a position teaching CNA1 classes and the director of the program still didn't understand that as a geriatric care planner I HAVE 8 years of geriatric experience (working as an independent contractor without a boss looking over my shoulder). I have to have one year geriatric experience prior to that before the company I work now would even consider me. I am juggling two such employers as an independent and still having to supplement my income with flu clinics every Fall for the past 8 years as well. So I'm not sure why it is so hard to get a foot in the door somewhere. I have serious back problems from years of heavy lifting, thus I am trying everything in my power to get a desk job in nursing. Does anyone have any suggestions that would assist me in my dilemma??? I would greatly appreciate any help I could find. I am going to be one of these seasoned nurses whose back gives out before their brains do and get caught in the donut hole that Senior citizens are finding themselves in.

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Specializes in ER CCU MICU SICU LTC/SNF.
i found a link for a free [color=#b22222]mds 2.0 interactive website, but had a severe computer crash, had to wipe everything off my hard drive an dstart over, so now i cannot find the link. if anyone knows what i am referring to, please leave me a message.

try this.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Community Care Nursing, CCM.

That's it=thanks!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Community Care Nursing, CCM.

I too was taken aback by the comment "I wouldn't hire you....." We need to be building each other up as nurses, not tearing each other down. It's a difficult field to work in as it is. I don't know why a SNF wouldn't hire either one of us, with or without experience. Most of the nurse get a 3 day OJT orientation that isn't adequate and then we are turned loose on a hall with anywhere from 20-30 residents on day shift and two halls on night shift. There was girl from my graduating ADN-actually two girls- with no more experience than any other new graduate nurse has which is none-and they were both hired as Directors of Nursing at two different SNFs. I was flabbergasted that they got hired right out of nursing school for a DON position. I was struggling to learn the skill of a staff nurse when I graduated. I don't know. I don't have all the answers, but here I am a seasoned nurse with 14 years experience, a strong background in geriatric nursing and ANCC certified with a BSN and I am having trouble finding permanent work as a case management nurse. Good luck. I just found a link to a free MDS interactive training course and the CMS has training power point slides for MDS 3.0 free to download. I just downloaded those and worked through section A. Get yourself a blank MDS 3.0 printout and use it with the Power Point Slide show. If you can read, you can learn the tool.

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Since my original post I have taken all the required AANAC MDS course and I'm now RAC-CT certified. Currently, I'm taking the rest of the courses to get the C-NE certification. I'm not working ast a MDS co-ordinator, yet. I work for the V.A. (Hospice and LTC) and I'm waiting for a slot to open.

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