Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Division of Veterans Homes – Union Grove
Nurse Clinician 3 (Minimum Data Set Coordinator)
Position Description June 2023
NURSE CLINICIAN 3
Position Summary
Under the general supervision of the building Nursing Supervisor (DON), this Nurse Clinician 3
(Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator) is an advanced nursing professional responsible and
accountable for following the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) manual, completing Care Area
Assessments (CAAs), and developing care plans used in the MDS process. The position independently
manages the MDS process for an assigned caseload of members at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union
Grove (WVHUG). The incumbent is an MDS subject matter expert for WVHUG and trains staff and
conducts in-services on the MDS/RAI/CAA and care planning process for all healthcare team members.
The MDS Coordinator oversees the development and distribution of MDS reports and acts as a resource
to all staff and work units involved in the process. The incumbent monitors the process for
quality; evaluates, recommends, and follows up on Quality Indicator reports; oversees and assists
with data retrieval for surveying agencies; assists with monitoring of staff involved in the MDS;
and ensures compliance with state, federal and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
regulations, and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and WVHUG policies and procedures.
Based on operational need, the position may need to perform direct member care.
Time % Goals and Worker Activities
50% A. Oversight, Direction, Monitoring, and Training of the MDS/RAI/CAA, Care Planning, and
Quality Indicator Processes for WVHUG
A1. Review services provided by individual healthcare team members to ensure compliance with
regulations, policies and procedures.
A2. Oversee, guide, and provide feedback to healthcare team as they complete relevant components of
the process.
A3. Analyze data gathered from interviews, physical assessments, and clinical charting to complete
the nursing component of the MDS.
A4. Ensure completion of all components of the process per policy, statute, and regulations.
A5. Collaborate with the healthcare team and management team to identify areas needing improvement.
A6. Facilitate problem resolution, communication, education and change implementation. A7. Serve
as a subject matter expert for the WVHUG campus.
A8. Provide training, resources and guidance to all users of the process.
A9. Review and analyze reports created from MDS, CAA, Care Planning and Quality Indicators data.
A10. Report on data to the Nursing Specialist (MDS Specialist) and provide recommendations for
policy change.
A11. Review and collect data from chart reviews, resident observations, staff interviews, and
MDS/CAA/Care Planning reviews to verify data validity and determine staff training needs.
A12. Recommend training through development of criteria, standards, data gathering, data analysis,
and conclusions.
A13. Assist state, federal, and VA surveyors with gathering and understanding data reports
generated by WVHUG systems.
A14. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of care.
30% B. Ensurance that Care Provided is in Accordance with State, Federal, and VA Regulations
B1. Ensure development and implementation of individualized care plans based on MDS and CAA data
and interviews with the member, the member’s family, and the healthcare team.
B2. Document goals and approaches that address the member’s spiritual, psychosocial, and physical
healthcare needs.
B3. Oversee audits of assessments from the healthcare team to ensure accuracy and appropriate care
plan development.
B4. Oversee audits to ensure coordination between the total plan of care (TPOC) and daily care
plan.
B5. Observe cares to ensure care plans are followed.
B6. Record observations and notify Nurse Clinician upon change in member’s health. B7. Review
care plans for appropriate updates as healthcare needs change.
B8. Ensure timely transmission of required Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), VA
and state forms to the appropriate agencies.
15% C. Facilitation of the Development and Achievement of WVHUG Goals and Objectives
C1. Participate in Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities, including the
development, implementation, and evaluation of improvement projects to address identified quality
improvement needs.
C2. Coordinate and complete projects as directed.
C3. Participate as assigned on WVHUG and Nursing Services committees.
C4. Continually update specific and specialized knowledge base regarding the MDS process.
5% D. Performance of Other Duties as Assigned
Special Requirement
• Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Wisconsin or Nurse Licensure Compact State with
unrestricted eligibility to work in a federally licensed nursing home
Preferred Qualification
• Resident Assessment Coordinator certification through American Association of Post-acute Care
Nursing (AAPACN) within six months of hire
Environmental Conditions
• Working conditions are those normally found in a long-term healthcare facility or nursing
home
• Exposure to blood, bodily fluids, bacteria, infectious waste, disease, chemicals, medications,
high humidity, loud/unpleasant noises, unpleasant odors, latex, Tyvex, plastic, and materials used
for personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Potential for bodily injury and exposure to hostile, emotionally upset members, as well as
physically and verbally abusive members on an occasional basis
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
1. Knowledge of Resident Assessment Instrument and Minimum Data Set and care planning process
2. Knowledge of the State Nurse Practice Act
3. Knowledge of geriatric treatment and care issues
4. Knowledge of current and emerging nursing care treatments
5. Knowledge of federal, state and VA codes relevant to WVHUG including WI Admin Code Chapter
Department of Health Services 132, the CMS State Operations Manual, and ICD-10 coding
6. Knowledge of patient charting techniques
7. Knowledge of safety and emergency protocols at WVHUG
8. Knowledge of quality assurance performance improvement principles and practices
9. Knowledge of occupational safety and infection control principles and practices
10. Knowledge of regulations, standards and practices related to patient rights and privacy (e.g.,
Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), etc.)
11. Knowledge of Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement rules pertaining to the MDS and Case Mix Index
12. Knowledge of the practices and techniques used to deal with an elderly patient population of
varying physical, mental and emotional abilities
13. Skill in nursing diagnosis, treatment protocols, and patient monitoring techniques
14. Skill in verbal, written and interpersonal communication
15. Skill in computer use, including Microsoft Office Suite, Electronic Health Record (EHR) and MDS
programs, and electronic recordkeeping, reporting and communications programs
16. Skill in critical thinking and problem solving
17. Ability to apply the theories and practices of developing, implementing and evaluating course
content and materials for adult training programs
18. Ability to use a variety of relevant theories from nursing and other disciplines to plan member
care
19. Ability to coordinate necessary actions with staff from multiple work units to achieve
objectives
20. Ability to teach RAI and MDS to staff
21. Ability to assess multiple complex medical conditions
22. Ability to monitor members
23. Ability to discern emergency situations and follow appropriate member assistance protocols
24. Ability to respond appropriately to residents calls and building/campus announcements
Physical Requirements
Job duties require the ability to stand and/or walk, up to 75 percent of eight-hour day to perform
resident assessments; work standing, sitting, kneeling or stooping; make visual observations; lift,
push, pull, carry and reach; maintain hygiene, use special safety equipment, and wear protective
clothing;
and provide members with assistance in mobility efforts.