Opinions,please.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

To all you MDS nurses: what do you think of a brand new grad being an MDS nurse? I'm thinking you need experience on the floor before you can do anything else, but that's just me. Any opinions?

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

WOW, I think even the nomenclature would slay them. Don't see how they would ever do it.

[susanthomas1954]

Nursing school didn't teach me the 4,000 regulations that regulate SNF's and nursing homes. Since my job as an MDS Nurse addresses over 3,000 of these regs, quality indicators and RUG levels for re-imbursement, the new grad needs to be someone who is willing to stay in the RAI Manual and the Guidance for surveyors night and day. The one plus that I can think of is that a new grad can probably write a decent care plan, IF they know what actually can and cannot be accomplished by the staff.

Short answer:Whoever is considering this needs to preceptor the new grad with a seasoned MDS nurse for about 6 months.

ST

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

That's my opinion as well. New grads are desperate to work so many of them get hired for positions they are ill prepared to do.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

I think it would be absolutely nuts to put a brand new nurse in a MDS position. What a set up for failure and how unfair to that bright eyed newbie. They wouldn't even know what hit them when they get slammed later down the road.