RE: MDS nurse pros and cons-My opinion

[Thompson, Karen (Kodiak)]

Good advice about the training.  MDS is the pivotal point for Long Term Care.  It is an intricate assessment process.  Even after you have the training you will call sometimes daily for clarification on various items as to code or not to code.  Make sure if you do take the job as MDS nurse the expectation is clear.  That you are not going to be pulled to the floor or have other duties as assigned.  Depending on the amount you will have to do chasing the documentation and communication you will need will take up most of your time.  It is a difficult job at best.  When everything is set up to support you in this position it can be a rewarding job.  But that does not happen very often in this setting.  Long Term Care is very hard and is system after system.  It is not like hospital nursing where we throw labor at problems.  In long term residents are entered into many systems that must be monitored, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.  If you have never worked long term care it will be an eye opener.  I've done it off and on for 21 years.  I'm in the perfect setting, it is only a 19 bed unit attached to a hospital and all the staff show up everyday.  I wish you luck but go in with your eyes wide open.   The amount of long term care regulations surpassed the amount of regulations for nuclear enery 7 years ago.  We are the most heavily regulated industry in the world. "Little known fact".    -----Original Message----- From: dfrias [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 12:12 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: MDS nurse pros and cons-My opinion Personal opinion here only.... I would not take a position as a part-time MDS nurse.  On the other hand... nor would I take a position as a full-time MDS nurse without training.  The best thing you can do for your own protection and sanity is contact  www.AANAC.org and find the closest MDS training class available to you.  The MDS is the driving force for reimbursement and survey if the MDS nurse is a newbie there could be major problems.  Another observation is that in my 9 years experience as an MDS Nurse/Case Manager I have never seen a successful part-time MDS Nurse....not to say there are none I just have not seen them. Best advise is to hold on to what you are doing...and take some classes...then seek employment. The Nose     ----- Original Message ----- From: Medical Legal To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 11:44 AM Subject: MDS nurse pros and cons I joined this list last week to see what type of help I could receive here if I started a new job at a nursing home ,as an MDS, nurse part time. I  work now as your know in a hospital, I am a DON of  the whole hospital,not a floor.  It is getting to be to much and working as a LNC recently. So my question is:  Can you tell me what the pros and cons are of your job? thank you for your time. Lawfully yours,  Medical Legal Nurse, LNC [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Do you Yahoo!? Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs This message is intended for the sole use of the individual to whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, disclose, or distribute to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received this message in error, please immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete this message.