MDS Coordinator RN - $5,000 sign-on

Avalon Health Care Management Inc.

Bellingham, Washington

Eligibility: Clinical DocumentationUtilization ReviewCase ManagementSign-on bonus
Unit: MDS Coordinator

Posted Jul 17

Unit and setting: Long Term Care
License: RN license
Term: Permanent

What it pays

Against similar roles: In range for Washington staff rolesWashington staff postings that state pay run $36/hr to $76/hr, the middle half $44/hr to $69/hr, across 1,337 postings.
Sign-on bonus: $5,000

Benefits

Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
FSA & Dependent Care FSA
Life insurance
AD&D insurance

More benefits (12)

Long Term Disability insurance
Short Term Disability insurance
Critical Illness insurance
Accident insurance
Hospital Indemnity
Legal Benefits
Identity Theft Protection
Pet insurance
Auto/Home Insurance
Tuition reimbursement
Opportunities for advancement
Career Advancement Courses

Worth asking

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Original listing

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Avalon Healthcare Bellingham is seeking an experienced MDS Coordinator to join our team! $52.00 - $55.00 /hr. Use your nursing skills to serve others in our fantastic facility. Avalon offers great pay with career growth opportunities including tuition reimbursement and career advancement courses.

Develop lasting relationships with your patients and the staff in our building. The valuable work we do makes a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. This position is on-site.

The Resident Assessment Coordinator will be responsible for all of the facility Medicare and Managed Care residents as directed by the Resident Assessment Director. This will include the oversight of all service provided during inpatient stay from admission to discharge. This position is also responsible for the accurate and timely completion of all OBRA required assessments.

This role is viewed as a key financial and clinical member of the management team.

What's around it?

In Bellingham, WA

Bellingham, WAFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 3% above the US average

Median rent: $1,577/mo
Household income: $66,755/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Bellingham, WA

NeighborhoodsMedical staff and young professionals gravitate toward several distinct enclaves across Bellingham and Whatcom County. Fairhaven and Columbia appeal to those seeking historic architecture, walkability, and independent retail, while Cornwall Park is prized for peaceful, tree-lined residential streets. Buyers and renters looking for newer construction and suburban commercial convenience look to master-planned developments in Barkley and Cordata, whereas South Hill and Edgemoor represent high-end view corridors overlooking Bellingham Bay. Those seeking separation from college activity avoid student-dense pockets like Happy Valley and Sehome near Western Washington University, frequently looking north to Ferndale or Blaine for larger properties and easier highway access.

Medical staff and young professionals gravitate toward several distinct enclaves across Bellingham and Whatcom County. Fairhaven and Columbia appeal to those seeking historic architecture, walkability, and independent retail, while Cornwall Park is prized for peaceful, tree-lined residential streets.

Buyers and renters looking for newer construction and suburban commercial convenience look to master-planned developments in Barkley and Cordata, whereas South Hill and Edgemoor represent high-end view corridors overlooking Bellingham Bay. Those seeking separation from college activity avoid student-dense pockets like Happy Valley and Sehome near Western Washington University, frequently looking north to Ferndale or Blaine for larger properties and easier highway access.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: joshandjolene.com Source 2: reddit.com Source 3: levainteam.com

Getting aroundInterstate 5 serves as Bellingham's central transportation spine, running north-south through the city and connecting regional commuters from northern communities like Ferndale and Blaine. Driving within city limits is generally quick, though living in coastal pockets or Fairhaven off the freeway corridor can add eight to ten minutes to daily travel times. Public transit coverage is limited outside the primary core corridors, meaning healthcare workers working shift schedules or traveling from outlying county areas will need to rely on personal vehicles.

Interstate 5 serves as Bellingham's central transportation spine, running north-south through the city and connecting regional commuters from northern communities like Ferndale and Blaine. Driving within city limits is generally quick, though living in coastal pockets or Fairhaven off the freeway corridor can add eight to ten minutes to daily travel times.

Public transit coverage is limited outside the primary core corridors, meaning healthcare workers working shift schedules or traveling from outlying county areas will need to rely on personal vehicles.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: reddit.com Source 2: rent.com Source 3: levainteam.com

OutdoorsOutdoor recreation defines daily life in Whatcom County, with trailheads and shoreline parks integrated directly into town. Boulevard Park offers waterfront boardwalks along Bellingham Bay, Whatcom Falls Park provides forested woodland trails around cascading waterfalls, and Lake Padden Park serves as a hub for trail running, dog walking, and paddling. Beyond the city limits, Mount Baker supplies premier skiing and snowboarding in winter, while Chuckanut Mountain trails and the San Juan Islands draw hikers, cyclists, and boaters throughout the warmer months.

Outdoor recreation defines daily life in Whatcom County, with trailheads and shoreline parks integrated directly into town. Boulevard Park offers waterfront boardwalks along Bellingham Bay, Whatcom Falls Park provides forested woodland trails around cascading waterfalls, and Lake Padden Park serves as a hub for trail running, dog walking, and paddling.

Beyond the city limits, Mount Baker supplies premier skiing and snowboarding in winter, while Chuckanut Mountain trails and the San Juan Islands draw hikers, cyclists, and boaters throughout the warmer months.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: bellingham.org Source 2: rent.com Source 3: youtube.com

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Living in Bellingham

Tucked between Bellingham Bay and the snow-capped North Cascades, Bellingham offers healthcare professionals an unmatched outdoor playground coupled with a close-knit coastal community. Life here revolves around fresh air and recreation, whether running trails in Whatcom Falls Park, strolling the boardwalk at Boulevard Park, dining on fresh oysters along Chuckanut Drive, or cheering on racers in the legendary Ski to Sea event. For housing, nurses often choose between the walkable historic charm of Fairhaven and Columbia, modern conveniences in master-planned Barkley, or suburban space in nearby Ferndale, steering clear of student-heavy rental corridors near Western Washington University. Commutes via Interstate 5 are generally smooth and free of major metro gridlock, though public transit is sparse outside core routes. The central trade-offs for relocating clinicians are competitive housing costs relative to local wages, quiet nightlife, and prolonged gray winter months. For clinicians who cherish sea air, mountain proximity, and a slower, subdued pace of life, Bellingham represents one of the Pacific Northwest's most appealing destinations.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026Source 1: joshandjolene.com Source 2: youtube.com Source 3: rent.com Source 4: bellingham.org

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Original listing

What's around it?

Bellingham, WAiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Bellingham, WA

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

Life in Bellingham, WA

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Bellingham, WAFrom Census ACS 2024.