Being an MDS Coordinator can be a daunting task. I believe in the system because it assists all long term care staff to be a part of the life of each resident. There is no short cut unfortunately. Knowing everything about all residents is an unrealistic expectation, and having been a former state surveyor, I can say I did not expect staff to know every detail, however I did expect them to know where to pull the information from and to be able to say I don't know the answer but I will find someone who does. The RAI process is a unique opportunity for nurses in long term care to teach other nurses that LTC nursing is as complex as acute care nursing.