Registered Nurse MDS Coordinator
Charlotte, North Carolina
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - MDS Coordinator

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

Seeking a Registered Nurse to serve as an MDS Coordinator in a skilled nursing setting focused on long-term acute care and rehabilitation. The role involves completing Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments, care planning, and coordination of patient care in a skilled nursing facility environment.

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in North Carolina
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• Minimum 3 years of Skilled Nursing experience, including Skilled Nursing experience within the last year
• Minimum 3 years of MDS Coordinator experience (hands-on completion of assessments), with MDS completion experience within the last 3 years
• Experience in Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) and Rehabilitation settings
• Managed Care experience
• Skills in admission criteria, appeals and denials, audits, benefits eligibility, care coordination, clinical documentation improvement, determining medical necessity per evidence-based guidelines, and needs assessment including ordering Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

Required Skills and Experience

• Work Settings: Experience in Long Term Acute Care (LTAC), Skilled Nursing, Managed Care, MDS Coordination, and Rehabilitation
• Processes: Admission criteria, appeals and denials, audits, benefits eligibility, care coordination, clinical documentation improvement, medical necessity determination, discharge planning, needs assessments (DME, home health, hospice, skilled nursing), physician advisor collaboration, plan of care development, pre-certification review, prior authorizations, quality improvement, CASPER review, retrospective review
• Regulatory Knowledge: CMS regulations, CPT coding and billing, Department of Health requirements, ICD-10 coding, and MDS regulations
• Professional Skills: Age-specific and population-based care
• Additional Skills: Utilization review and triple check processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Regulatory skills including DRG, HIPAA guidelines, NCQA, OBRA, and RAPS
• Experience educating nursing staff on duties
• LTAC experience
• Certifications such as RAC-CT and ICD-10 coding

Work Details

• Shift: 10-hour days, 08:00 AM to 6:30 PM
• Hours: 40 hours per week available
• Patient Ratio: 1:12 nurse-to-patient ratio
• Average Daily Census: 9 patients
• Unit: Skilled Nursing Facility providing short-term rehab (14-21 days) with 24/7 nursing and medical support, including PT/OT/ST as needed
• Call/Float/Weekend Requirements: None

Patient Population and Unit Information

• Patients range from generalized weakness to post-surgical aftercare, including surgical wounds and pressure ulcers
• The unit focuses on short-term rehabilitation and comprehensive care planning
• MDS Coordinator responsibilities include assessment completion, baseline care plan development, care plan meetings, submission and validation of assessments, oversight of certification/recertification processes, proper diagnosis coding, education on MDS changes, and utilization review to ensure accurate billing documentation
• Additional duties include admission referral review and insurance preauthorization support

Orientation and Equipment

• Orientation: 24 hours on unit after one week of hospital orientation
• Uniform: Navy blue scrubs (not provided)
• Systems: Pyxis, EPIC (including EPIC chat, Voalte, and Rover)
• Special Equipment: No restraints used on unit

Compliance and Documentation Requirements

Candidates must complete all required documentation and background checks prior to start, including but not limited to:

• State nursing license verification
• Background check within 6 months
• Drug screening within 6 months
• Immunizations and health screenings (e.g., TB test, flu vaccination or exemption)
• Required facility-specific training and compliance modules
• Photo for badge (passport-style, business attire, white background)

Additional Notes

• No call-offs or additional time off allowed after booking; violations may result in cancellation
• Interview with hiring manager required before offer
• Flu vaccination or approved exemption required during flu season
• Medication safety training and other facility-specific education required

This position offers a valuable opportunity for experienced RNs with MDS expertise to work in a supportive skilled nursing environment with a focus on rehabilitation and care coordination.