Offered MDS Position

[simprocon]

Hello guys, i just wanted to get your opinions. Im a new grad nurse, i have been working in long term care facility as an RN for 6 months now. The administrator and don came to me the other day, and asked me if i was interested in an MDS position. I would be the MDS coordinator for only their short term wing, which can hold up to 23 patients. I am a regular on that wing, and am familiar with the patients, and the families. The short term wing is 90% medicare patients. They offered me the job because the MDS nurse who has been there for three years is moving, and she gave a one month notice. The pay will be higher, and the schedule would be monday to friday from like 8 to 5 but really depends on how much work you have. In your opinion should i take it. Some one will be there to train me and the current mds will show me the ropes before she leaves. On the other hand, i am still new at this, i feel like i just got my routine down and have just got used to working on the floor, and i don't want to have to start over again, learning everything again there is. I do love my schedule right now, i work 4 days, 40 hours - a double and three 8 hour shifts. I love working weekends because i get differential too, and less busy on the floor. So what do you think, should i consider. I'm 21 years old, and feel that im still inexperienced. But these positions rarely open up.

[Talino]

... So what do you think, should i consider. I'm 21 years old, and feel that im still inexperienced. But these positions rarely open up.

My inner sense compels me to comment -

A new grad your age should be in LTC simply as a prelude to acute care. After a year in acute, you probably wouldn't care what MDS is. And, when CMS goes belly-up , each private entity will have their own version of MDS - w/ a set of new and different instructions.

It's way too early to subject that nursing education to a standstill as MDS coordinator, and like other coordinators say, forgo sanity!

[chlori]

On the other hand...you may love it. I wouldn't exactly call being an MDS nurse a "stand still" position. It all depends on what you want to do with your nursing education. I have worked in long term care since a teen, and I went to RN school because I wanted to do acute care. After working as the lead MDS coordinator for a while, I quickly realized that I loved that aspect of nursing, being the business side of things. I am 6 months from my BSN and I have acutally thought about my original plan of obtaining my NP to getting an MBA. So like I said, it all depends on what YOU are interested in. For me, I love what I do, and am challenged everyday. The MDS nurse controls so many aspects of clinical as well as control of reimbursement to a large degree with Medicare and Medicaid and private insurances. So for me, what I thought I once wanted to do, I no longer care about, that being acute care nursing, etc. I want to do something on the business side of things, and being an RN will certainly help on my resume for future jobs. So with that being said, try it, if you like it, great. You can never have too much education and knowledge about the many various avenues of nursing!

[Chin up]

I would take it. It is a specialty that is in demand all over the country. Learn it now, MDS 3.0 is brand new. You will not regret it. Peace!

[Bella'sMyBaby]

The first question is, do you want to be a floor nurse or an MDS Coordinator?

IF you decide that you do want to be an MDS Coordinator, then make sure you are just that, NOT an MDS Coordinator who gets pulled to the floor when the facility is short staffed, otherwise you won't survive in the MDS World.

I guess I'm biased because I want to tell you to take the MDS Position but I know it's not for everybody.

I can tell you that MDS Coordinators are in hot demand.

A good MDS Coordinator brings in lots of money for the facility.

I know now at this point in my career that I could not go back to floor nursing due to health issues...another plus for MDS. :)