How often do you respond to an MDS question with a response of "unknown"? Does your software easily allow that? Did you know that "unknown" is a legitimate response for most MDS items.
It occurred to me that some MDS questions should probably be answered "unknown" quite often while others would be dangerous to do so. For example. J3j (Pain Site - Other). If a resident is apparently in pain and yet non-communicative, how can you answer J3j anything but unknown? There could be multiple sites that are painful and you really don't know. What about K3a (Weight loss)? It might be very dangerous to answer this unknown if the resident has been with you for 180 days or more. It would tip off the surveyors that you have not been tracking the residents weight. On the other hand maybe you should answer K3a as unknown on all admission assessments since you can't be sure of the resident's weight history over 30 or 180 days prior to admission. Nathan Lake -----Original Message----- From: Cathy Petros [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 1:36 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: simple question God love you Holly! I left an MDS position that I loved but other issues came up. I did rotate call every third week, but never had to go into facility or cover the floor, etc. I am now a skilled unit manager in another facility--only 3 weeks. Already the writing is on the wall. We do not have RN coverage for 3-11 nor 11-7. I am being asked to work 16-18 hour shifts at least once a week. I Do the managers position 10 hours and then the floor 8 hours. I drive 1.23 hours each way to work. I have already applied elsewhere and am looking at other things to do when I grow up. After all, I'm only 53, and am much to independent to play games. Lots of luck to you. This e-mail, and any attachments there to, is intended for use by the addressee(s) named herein, and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of the e-mail, and any attachment thereto, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify me by telephone at 207-866-4914 and permanently delete the original and any copy of any e-mail and any printout thereof. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Holly Sox, RN, RAC-C Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 4:45 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: simple question I am on salary, but paid quite well. Since I have been in this job, I have not been required to take call, and have been able to take off a lot of time for medical problems with my son and husband. So, for the most part, when it is really busy (like now) I am not too resentful of the extra time. Recently, some other issues have arisen that are making my job not so enjoyable, and I may either soon leave or make a big, big stand. In addition to doing all MDS and Care plans for 118 beds with currently 19 Med A residents, I coordinate admissions and direct the pain management program. And rumor has it I will soon be asked to take call. My son actually wants to be a massage therapist or physical therapist (this week) My dad was a nurse, matter of fact, both my parents were nurses. My dad graduated when I was in second grade. My teacher refused to believe he was a nurse, instead of a doctor. My how times are changing. All my doctors are women and my dad is a nurse. Holly ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cathy Petros" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 2:35 PM Subject: RE: simple question > Holly, > Are you being paid overtime for your efforts? Probably not. I did that > for a little while and decided I needed to get a life. I withdrew from > many committees-which I had been placed on, streamlined the Rap/Trigger > process, demanded the other departments input on time, and SURVIVED AT > WORK!!!!! I also had a marvelous administrator who gave me lots of > support despite > The DON's objections. God, I miss him in my new position. Life goes > on. Does you son want to become a nurse? We could use a few good > men!! Good Luck to you. > Cathy P > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > This e-mail, and any attachments there to, is intended for use by the > addressee(s) named herein, and may contain legally privileged and/or > confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this > e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or > copying of the e-mail, and any attachment thereto, is strictly > prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please > immediately notify me by telephone at 207-866-4914 and permanently > delete the original and any copy of any e-mail and any printout thereof. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Corey > Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 12:00 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: simple question > > Me. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bryan Sims" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 12:48 PM > Subject: Re: simple question > > > > Hi, I requested internet service, so that I can take advantage of > looking > up > > info re MDS, and since my DON and ADON are both very MDS savvy it was > done > > the next day. Have a good day. > > > > How many MDS coordinators work weekends, incl Sundays to get all of > there > > work done? > > > > bryan > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Carol O'Brien" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 1:45 PM > > Subject: Re: simple question > > > > > > > I guess we are really lucky here. When I was hired, the > administrator > > asked > > > specifically if I would mind accessing the group and sharing things > with > > > her, the asst admin, and DON. > > > > > > > > > >From: "Corey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >Subject: Re: simple question > > > >Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 15:33:10 -0500 > > > > > > > >I would actually estimate that most of us do NOT have email at > work. > In > > > >many of my positions in the past, I have been either scolded, > written > up > > or > > > >actually fired once, for reading this list serv, or the one that > > preceded, > > > >at work. Often, as another on this list serv wrote, either the DON > or > > the > > > >Administrator don't really understand all of the in's and out's of > the > > > >process, and the actual relationship of income to careful > scheduling > and > > > >coding of the MDS. Many of them think of 5,14,30,60, etc. as the > actual > > > >dates, and no amount of explanation helps. Most often, reading > email > has > > > >been considered "surfing" the internet during work hours. Actually > > showing > > > >the downloads, such as the manual, the email filings and addresses, > > > >postings by CMS, etc., are considered things that are "private > interest" > > > >and should be done "on your own time at home". Several years ago, > the > > DON > > > >had the modem removed from the submission computer so that all > > submissions > > > >needed to be done from the administrator's computer, which was fine > until > > > >the day the MDS team needed to use her computer for the submission. > The > > > >next day, the modem was returned, but all use of internet explorer > was > > > >blocked, which lasted until they needed to look up something and > realized > > > >they had shot themselves in the foot. (I suppose it's rude to > giggle, > > > >isn't it?) > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: Michelle Witges > > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 12:20 PM > > > > Subject: Re: simple question > > > > > > > > > > > > I have noticed in the past day or so that several of us on the > list > > > >serve have indicated that they do not have access to email at work. > I > > just > > > >took for granted that most of us access the list while at work. Is > there > > > >some reason or rationale that those of us who do not have access at > work? > > > >Just curious. > > > > Michelle > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: Corey > > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 9:25 AM > > > > Subject: Re: simple question > > > > > > > > > > > > Cathy: > > > > During my 10 years in MDS, I have only had 2 jobs where we > were > > > >allowed internet access to get email. Got fired from one job for > going > > on > > > >line to look something up at the CMS site. It was considered > "surfing". > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: Cathy Petros > > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 8:55 AM > > > > Subject: RE: simple question > > > > > > > > > > > > Try to take some time during your work day to review the > emails. > > I > > > >consider it part of my job to be informed. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > This e-mail, and any attachments there to, is intended for > use > by > > > >the addressee(s) named herein, and may contain legally privileged > and/or > > > >confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of > this > > > >e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, > distribution or > > > >copying of the e-mail, and any attachment thereto, is strictly > > prohibited. > > > >If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately > notify me > > by > > > >telephone at 207-866-4914 and permanently delete the original and > any > > copy > > > >of any e-mail and any printout thereof. > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf > > > >Of katie fox > > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 9:44 PM > > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Subject: Re: simple question > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi > > > > > > > > I do have a manual and it is on my lap the whole time I am > at > the > > > >computer. We are the only facility on the island that does MDS. > We > are > > > >very small, 25-35 residents. I did not get much training, as our > > > >consultant was trying to catch us up from our computer going down > in > > June, > > > >she was there for two weeks. I started in the middle of August. > > > >(surveyors came on my second day on the job) I do all the > sections > some > > > >of the time and some of the time I can get our other departments > > > >(activities, social services) to do their sections. Therapy always > comes > > > >through for me and they give me the information for their section. > > > > > > > > I did join AANAC and have been reading emails almost every > night > > > >after work. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Katie Fox, RN > > > > Seaview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility > > > > St. Thomas, Virgin Islands > > > > 340-777-3303 ext. 114 > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > > > From: dfrias > > > > > > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 8:32 PM > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: simple question > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Welcome Katie! > > > > > > > > I think the best place for you to start is the RAI > Manual...do > > you > > > >have one? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Also, it will be very important for you to check out (and > if > > > >possible join) AANAC's membership. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Tell us...how much training you have had in the process? > > > > > > > > When did you start? > > > > > > > > How many beds are you responsible for? > > > > > > > > What sections do you complete? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, you did ask a basic question...but we are all basic > to > some > > > >extent...as the regulations are always changing or being clarified. > So > > > >feel free to ask basic questions...infact, we welcome them! You > are a > > > >brave person to write...others like to lurk....so you may be asking > a > > > >question that others are thinking about. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I won't bore you and others with the answers as I am sure > the > > > >questions are being answered as I write this. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A bit of advise.... > > > > > > > > Don't try to be a perfectionist you will disappoint > yourself. > > > >Always, know you will always be learning regardless of the > seminars, > > > >conventions and articles...no one has it all! Which is the reason > you > > can > > > >feel free to ask the questions on this listserver...someone out > there > may > > > >have part of an answer and others will expound of that > answer...this is > > all > > > >part of growing with the MDS. Oh one last thing...try not to look > at > the > > > >position as a job...but rather as a career I do believe you will > find > > much > > > >more rewarding. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Good Luck, > > > > > > > > The Nose > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > > > From: katie fox > > > > > > > > To: aanac > > > > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 6:54 PM > > > > > > > > Subject: simple question > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi > > > > > > > > I am very new to the whole MDS process and am trying to > learn > > > >everything at once. I am the only one in this area that does this > job, > > so > > > >I am learning a lot from everyone's emails. (thank you) > > > > > > > > I have a very simple question-- What is the time frame > for > me > > to > > > >complete the MDS after the ARD? And how long for me to transmit? > > > > > > > > Forgive me for the basic question. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Katie Fox, RN > > > > Seaview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility > > > > St. Thomas, Virgin Islands > > > > 340-777-3303 ext. 114 > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > Is your computer infected with a virus? Find out with a FREE > computer > > virus > > > scan from McAfee. Take the FreeScan now! > > > http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 > > > > > > /---------------------------------------------------------- > > > The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of the American > > > Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators > > > "Committed to the Assessment Professional" > > > Be sure to visit the AANAC website. Accurate answers to your > > > questions posted to NAC News and FAQs. > > > For more info visit us at http://www.aanac.org > > > -----------------------------------------------------------/ > > > > > > > /---------------------------------------------------------- > > The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of the American > > Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators > > "Committed to the Assessment Professional" > > Be sure to visit the AANAC website. Accurate answers to your > > questions posted to NAC News and FAQs. > > For more info visit us at http://www.aanac.org > > -----------------------------------------------------------/ > > > /---------------------------------------------------------- > The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of the American > Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators > "Committed to the Assessment Professional" > Be sure to visit the AANAC website. Accurate answers to your > questions posted to NAC News and FAQs. > For more info visit us at http://www.aanac.org > -----------------------------------------------------------/ > > /---------------------------------------------------------- > The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of the American > Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators > "Committed to the Assessment Professional" > Be sure to visit the AANAC website. Accurate answers to your > questions posted to NAC News and FAQs. > For more info visit us at http://www.aanac.org > -----------------------------------------------------------/ > > /---------------------------------------------------------- The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators "Committed to the Assessment Professional" Be sure to visit the AANAC website. Accurate answers to your questions posted to NAC News and FAQs. For more info visit us at http://www.aanac.org -----------------------------------------------------------/ /---------------------------------------------------------- The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators "Committed to the Assessment Professional" Be sure to visit the AANAC website. Accurate answers to your questions posted to NAC News and FAQs. For more info visit us at http://www.aanac.org -----------------------------------------------------------/ /---------------------------------------------------------- The Case Mix Discussion Group is a free service of the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators "Committed to the Assessment Professional" Be sure to visit the AANAC website. Accurate answers to your questions posted to NAC News and FAQs. For more info visit us at http://www.aanac.org -----------------------------------------------------------/
