“The nurse’s part of the MDS is just invaluable. And you really feel like you can be a nurse, because you use every assessment skill you learned in nursing school.”—Jane Belt, MS, RN, RAC-MT, QCP
If you are considering a career in the MDS, one thing you need to know is how important the resident interview process is in assessing someone’s care. A resident interview takes a special skillset – it requires a great amount of empathy, understanding, and communication skills, as well as your clinical assessment skills. When conducting a resident interview, it’s essential to really take the time to talk to residents and find out what’s important to them. It’s a very personal, face-to-face interaction.
A few of the resident interviews involved in the MDS process are about:
- Cognitive Patterns (MDS 3.0 RAI Manual, Section C) – What is the mental status of the resident? How is his/her memory and decision making?
- Mood (MDS 3.0 RAI Manual, Section D) – How does the resident feel? What are his/her psychological needs?
- Preferences for Customary Routine and Activities (MDS 3.0 RAI Manual, Section F) – What does the resident want to do every day? What does he/she like and dislike?
- Pain (MDS 3.0 RAI Manual, Section J) – What kind of pain is the resident in? How does it affect his/her daily activities?
During an interview, you’ll observe not only what residents are saying about how they are thinking and feeling, but you’ll also have to take note of their body language and facial expressions.
Hear more from AANAC curriculum development specialist, Jane Belt, MS, RN, RAC-MT, QCP, as she covers the MDS interview process, how personal it can get, and how it truly helps us answer the question, “How can we help in providing you the best care and quality of life?”