Thanks to the 5 Star Quality Ratings companies now take the title RN over LPN regardless

I started out as the Nursing Coordinator, in a LTC facility. I was responsible for labs, infection control, chart audits, MD rounds, and many many other things. Quickly it became apparent that my attention to detail would best benefit this company in the MDS office. I was then asked to become the MDS Assistant. In less than a month, with no prior MDS experience, I was filling the position of MDS Coordinator. I quickly fell in love with this position. I was able to coordinate with a team to ensure that quality care was being given to all of my residents. After a year in the position all long term residents had cycled through and the assessments were truly accurate. I was amazed by how many of the assessments that were in place prior to me taking the position were soooo inaccurate. I learned the QI/QM process inside and out and could justify everything for every resident in our facility. To make a long story short...I am no longer at that facility, after several years of dedicated service. It seems now that companies have fallen back to hiring only RNs for the MDS Coordinator position purely for the title. With the 5 Star Quality Ratings most every facility was found to be short on RNs. To correct this they have taken away most nursing management positions that an LPN is more than qualified to do. The title of RN in no way indicates that there is more knowledge on any particular subject. Why would companies rather put an untrained nurse with no long term care experience ahead of a tenured LPN with over a decade of LTC experience. While you may improve your staffing ratings for RN coverage, you risk submission of inaccurate MDS. While PPS/MDS is pretty black and white and straight by the book, without the knowledge that only comes from experience, your risk of recoopment of previously paid benefits greatly increases. It just blows me away.

I would like to address a couple of things....most companies in Texas are not hiring RN's for the MDS position. We have found that although they may sometimes be clnically stronger, they are not as efficient or organized and focused as the LVN MDS nurse. Also, all nurses performing MDS duties are reported as RN hours on your state survey entrance forms which is where your staffing stars originate from regardless of whether they are an LVN or RN. As long as they perform administrative duties, they are reported as RN's.

Hmmm...I do not know if here in Alabama they count all admin nurses as RN. I was trying to find information on it and I am having a hard time finding that. If you possibly have a resource you could share on the criteria for "RN Hours".

Thanks!!