New to this--feel like I have set myself up for failure:(

[wranglergrl9]

Hey everyone:) I'm new to this site and to my position as an MDS/clinical coordinator (I've held it for approx.4 months). My background is predominately critical care/CCU and about 2 yrs of floor nursing at a SNF. I have absolutely no background in MDS. I didn't even know what it stood for when I accepted the job. I was told it was 8 hour days, I could pick my own hours. I would do careplans and work at the computer and occasionally round with the doctors. Now, let's fast forward to what I really do. Oh and let me first say that I got about 4 days of MDS training from a woman who does not regularly work at my facility. She visits about once a week and when I came into the picture, the other MDS person had been let go so I had no trainer. So, in one month I had 19 annual assessments due, 6 new admissions plus my quarterly etc. When new admits come, I am responsible for completing the admission careplan, doing the fall/nursing/skin adm assess., then I have to do the computer careplan.(I'm required to complete both). I then act as DON when she is not there which is approx 1-2 days per week. I've never oriented with the DON so when issues arise such as missing narcs, it takes me twice as long to follow up because I don't know the procedures yet. So here comes the policy book, where's the paper? phonecall to DON--- Oh it's locked in my office, ok I'll find the janitor to let me into your office. Oh he's on break......... On those days, I get absolutely no MDS work done due to constant interruptions and nurses who cannot change dressings independently, hang IV's or deal with wound vacs. I am the go to person for family complaints, pharmacy questions, dr questions, wound nurse(I have to measure and change dressings every Monday). I have to give tours. I am a discharge planner--call the meds in, type med list, order adaptive equip. Oh and I almost forgot about care conferences every Wed., rounds with two diff docs on Tues/Thurs. Therapy writes orders, I'm the one they give them too to carry out. My "8 hour days" are more like 12, sometimes 16.

I think you get the picture;) Now let me say my co-workers are great and they try to help me along and are great cheerleaders. However, it's getting very hard lately. We just got our yearly state visit and I got two dings on MDS. I thought that was pretty good considering I had ZERO training!! I beat myself up pretty badly over this and still do but I'm starting to get a little angry because I feel if they would've taken the time to train me right in the first place, then I wouldn't have caused this uproar in the facility and wouldn't be feeling like an absolute loser. Part of their POC is MDS audits. During the last week, 3 different people from corporate are auditing the MDS's and I'm having to justify all my answers. GEEZ and guess what? The month where the most mistakes are noted is when I had so many annuals to do. I just feel like such a failure and we know how nurse mentalities are. I do not like to fail and I know that I am not stupid. I also feel that I should not have to eat the cost of a training seminar. I think they should at least pay me for a day of work, even 8 hours, if I pay for a class to educate myself.

Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice would be wonderful even a wooo hooo would be appreciated

[greenbean21]

I feel so bad for you! I think that the major problem with LTC is that often administrators do not understand how intensive MDS really is, and how time-consuming doing MDS is. They will keep adding responsibilities on and it is so easy to get behind on MDS. It sounds as if you are being taken advantage of. There is absolutely NO WAY that you can be expected to fill in for the DON this often, round with docs, assist the nursing staff with procedures, and be an MDS Coordinator. I used to be an MDS Coordinator but went back to hospital nursing because of the too-high expectation. If it wasn't for all of the "extra" duties, I probably could have made it work. But if you are doing MDSs, don't believe that 8-hour day crap- you will be working longer hours and overtime and you are usually salary- so no overtime. Good luck to you! I feel your pain!

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Wow, my head is just spinning from what you described. They are expecting way too much of anyone person.

How big is your facility?