Registered Nurse - MDS Coordinator

The RN Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator is assigned to the Geriatric and Extended Care Service (GEC), or Community Living Center (CLC) and is a professional registered nurse with broad-based clinical knowledge and application in working with the adult and older adult population and appointed to work within the Resident Assessment Instrument - Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS) program and the Restorative Care Nursing program (RCN).

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Preferred Experience: 5 years nursing long term care experience; 5 years of MDS experience

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

Physical Requirements:
The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting, and repositioning patients or similar activities. The incumbent will be required to lift to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 35 pounds frequently. The incumbent will be required to handle equipment and must be knowledgeable of an able to use safe lifting techniques. The use of correct body mechanics required. The mental/sensory requirements include recall, reasoning, problem-solving, hearing (aid permitted), speaking clearly, writing legibly, keyboarding, reading, and logical thinking. Also, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16". The environment's pace can vary from steady to a sometimes-fast pace, requiring handling of multiple priorities, frequent, sometimes intense customer interactions, and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment. There may be the need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease, illness, and hazardous materials (1-2 hours at a time).

Responsibilities:

The RN MDS Coordinator promotes a safe environment for all patients, including those with altered sensorium due to medication or an acute or chronic illness. The MDS Coordinator will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) and Minimum Data Set (MDS), a standardized instrument designed to identify the functional and health care needs of residents. The MDS is gathered via the RAI process, which assesses a resident's behavioral, psychological, clinical, nutritional, and physical strengths and needs to create an individualized cared plan that considers the resident holistically. The RN MDS Coordinator then works with providers, nursing, PT, nutrition, etc., to ensure care plan guidelines for each resident are followed, and compliant with ethical standards and requirements.

The incumbent will be responsible for but not limited to:

• Coordinates, develops, maintains, and completes the MDS/RAI (Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument) process for residents. Ensures compliance with State and Federal guidelines regarding MDS assessments. Completes Nursing and Care Area Assessment (CAA) summaries as indicated by the type of assessment required. Enters information into computerized ADL program.
• Responsible for certifying completion of the MDS and identification of the care plan revision.
• Responsible for setting RUG levels for each resident and ensuring the facility is getting accurate, and maximum, reimbursement. Care payment level categories, or Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) are determined by MDS assessments.
• Responds to resident's change of condition or potential change in condition by monitoring a resident's physical and psychosocial state. Upon review of the data, advise the MDS team whether a change of condition in MDS is warranted, per protocol and regulatory guidelines.
• Audit resident's care plans - Review and update per CAA summaries. Audit resident's records Monitors charts for required documentation.
• Coordinates, conducts, leads, and participates in the multi-disciplinary team meetings. Tracks residents who are due for MDS review, develops and provides a list to all departments and individuals involved.
• Reviews existing Resident Care Plans and Nursing Care Directives on a quarterly and as-needed basis and updates per the CAA summary and other disease-specific problems.
• Gain knowledge of current state and federal regulations. Attentional to detail is required and they must be able to relate professionally, positively, and cooperatively with staff, residents, and family members.
• Chairs the CLC Committees; Calculates, interprets, and presents CLC Quality Measures; Coordinates process improvement projects to improve quality measures
• Performs other nursing assessments as indicated review.
• Must maintain basic life support (BLS) and Advanced Cardia Life Support (ACLS)

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $70,055 - $119,996