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