Building a Stronger Team, One Scavenger Hunt at a Time

To the public, May 24th was just National Scavenger Hunt Day. For the Alden Network Health Care organization, it was a creative way to promote team camaraderie and allow their Minimum Data Set (MDS) Nurses to have a little fun at work for the overall benefit of providing exceptional care to its residents.

MDS Nurses throughout the Alden Network were invited to participate in a company-wide scavenger hunt. Participants were tasked with engaging with their coworkers to identify those who met specific criteria, such as a clinical manager with the longest tenure, an activity aide dressed in their full uniform, or a certified nursing assistant who completed required documentation accurately and timely.

MDS Nurses were also challenged with performing duties of other departments, such as answering phones at the front desk for the receptionist and vacuuming a hallway for a housekeeping aide.

"The MDS Nurse performs a critical role within each of our facilities as they are responsible for the development and implementation of person-centered plans of care," says Jennifer Fuller, LNHA, vice president of Reimbursement at The Alden Network "The success of an MDS Nurse relies heavily on their ability to collaborate with every department within the facility. While the job of an MDS Nurse is stand alone, they cannot be successful without consistently taking a team approach."

MDS Nurses are responsible for coordinating the completion of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) for each resident. The RAI is comprised of as many as 19 sections and more than 500 questions that require the input from staff, who represent a multitude of departments throughout the facility. This detailed assessment process allows the MDS Nurse to comprehensively evaluate the residents behavioral, psychological, clinical, nutritional and physical strengths and in turn develop an individualized plan of care that promotes improved care and outcomes. Once the RAI is completed and the plan of care is developed, the work of the MDS Nurse continues as they are also responsible for monitoring the implementation of the plan of care as well as ensuring maximum reimbursement is received from Medicare/Medicaid for the delivery of care and services.

"The job of the MDS Nurse is very methodical, process driven, and at times can feel cumbersome," says Fuller. "Hosting a scavenger hunt was a unique way to encourage positive interactions between the departments the MDS Nurses rely so heavily on, promoting teamwork throughout the facility, and most importantly a way to have a little fun at work."

To determine scavenger hunt winners, participants were required to submit photographic evidence of each completed task and the first three participants to complete the scavenger hunt were declared winners. The Alden Network congratulates first place winner Sebastian Jose, MDS Nurse at Alden Estates of Skokie Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, second place winner Katie Lucas, MDS Nurse at Alden Poplar Creek Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and third place winner, Alma Mora, MDS Nurse at Alden Town Manor Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

For more than 50 years, The Alden Network has provided health care and residential solutions for seniors and has helped them function to the best of their ability and live life as independently as possible. To learn more about becoming and MDS Nurse or other career opportunities throughout the Alden Network, call (800) 291-5900 or visit www.thealdennetwork.com/careers.