Responsible for being on call ?

Specialties MDS

Published

Hi all, I'm wondering how many MDS. nurses are asked to be part of the weekend on call rotation. And how about covering and or having to go in on your assigned weekend to work the unit?

We have a consultant group, that comes in for 2 days every month, and picks apart all the MDS's that I completed,:eek: finding where we could of made more money if I changed the ARD, sometimes they spend hours reviewing and digging to find a MD appointment I missed in the consult papers that didnt make it in to the chart. Then they present their findings in front of me to the DON and the Administrator. It makes me feel so degraded. I try to tell myself that the consultants have to find something to keep their job, and sometimes they want me to code ADL for higher points that I will not, and it always makes me look bad. Like I dont have enough stress with dead lines. My boss tells me that the consultants are here to help and for me to learn from, yeah right, they put me on the defensive, can't learn in that environment.

I love digging and making that extra point, I started this job thinking each MDS was a challenge, now I sort of face it with regret. I feel like a lone nurse, not sure where to fit in. I can't fit in with the nurses on the floor, because I dont do "all"they do, and they don't understand "all"that I do. :jester:

We are a good bunch, we the money maker, MDS nurse. I want to feel appreciated, but I do only when we all talk to each other. Sorry that I rambled on a bit, but it is so easy when you have others that understand, and I know you are reading this and nodding.

:typing

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Specializes in Med-Surg., Agency Nursing, LTC., MDS..

There would be less need for these expensive consultants,if the administration would let you do your job,instead of being on call, helping unit nurses,etc....etc...etc... If only we could walk in each others job roles for a short time...

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Specializes in Long term care.

I had worked from 3/4/08 to 10/3/08 without being on call, or working the floor - then there was an 'executive' decision to have those things added to my job description. It was stated that being on call & working the floor was always a part of my job description, but it was never put into effect.

So, when they did put it into effect, I resigned.

I figured this: I could do the job of any of those floor nurses if I needed/wanted to, but not one of them could do my job!! So why should my work suffer & get behind, to help work the floor -- nobody ever 'helped' me if I needed a hand.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I also took a job as MDS Cordnator. it would have been fine if I had more than 1 day a week to accomplish 5 days of work... I was continually pulled to the cart as they were always short. to get my work done I was working 16 hours a day. I found another job and gave my resignation.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

Well I guess I'm lucky not to have to take the cart during the week. Unit managers or treatment nurse fill in. We are lucky to have very few call outs. Maybe due to the fact that we have Baylor weekends. But I agree, MDS nurses "get no respect" mainly in the sense that they HAVE NO IDEA what we really do. Sometimes I wish there was money in the budget so that each nurse could shadow us for a day or two.......:cool: I'm on call this coming weekend and already keeping my fingers crossed....:D

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Specializes in Med-Surg., Agency Nursing, LTC., MDS..

I'll cross my fingers for you too,Bedpan76... ! The other staff think MDS is a "cushy" job...I really wish they could shadow me for a few days and let's not forget allllllll... the meetings,the fall prevention committee,pain meeting,caretracker meetings,mandatory inservices,the DON..."I'm disappointed in all of youooo" meetings....If there is any time left I might be able to squeeze in my care plan meetings for the two units I covered.

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What is a Baylor weekend, Bedpan? LOL I'll say a pray for you this weekend to. I love that shadow idea. I figured it out, I have to attend 3 days full of meetings every week. Leaving me 2 days to do my MDS job, and they recently were kind enough to give me, Case Management of Insured and Cut letters contact. Lucky me....dont all of you be jealouse now....:redpinkhe

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

Hi Debbie, Baylor is 12 hour shifts on Sat. and Sun. with pay for 36 hrs w/ full time benefits....

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Having an MDS coordinator take call is standard practice. The facilities consider most MDS coordinators department heads and most of the department heads take turns being the the facility on the weekend. If a facility is under 100 beds sometimes the only RN's employed are the DON and MDS coordinator so the DON and MDS coordinator take turns taking call. Unfortunalty this goes along with the teritiory. I know its hard when you have to make MDS's your priority and they are time sensitive.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

One in 6 for me. They are very good about finding staff for the floor. I am well protected in general as they like the MDS stuff done timely and correctly.

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Specializes in LTC, Other.

I am on call every 4th week for 24/7 for the week. I would have to come in if absolutely needed and I have also helped cover 1/2 shifts from nocs into days if we are short noc nurses. I dont get paid extra cause i am salaried but i will try and leave early ie if i start at 3 am then i try to leave at noon. if i cant that day then i leave early another day. where it gets really frustrating is when state is in the building as i am required to stay as long as they are in the building one time i started at 4 am and because of the number of assessments i needed to complete i couldnt leave early. and when i was trying to leave at 4 the state walked in they stayed until almost 11 pm that night needless to say at the time i lived over an hour from work and i knew they would be back by 7 and i was on call so i spent the night trying to sleep in the therapy office. (staff trying to be cute and funny because it was april first woke me at 3 am saying state was back) other than this i love my job 99% of the time

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

I was on call this past weekend and had to go in at 7 pm on Sat. to pass the hs meds for one hall (30 residents). Could have been worse if I had had to stay all night...But now I'm good for another 4 weeks. I know how it is when state comes. Had to cancel doctor's appts. etc. And they are due in my facility any day now......:uhoh3:

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