VivaLasViejas ASN, RN

LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych

Once a nurse, always a nurse!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

All Content by VivaLasViejas

  1. VivaLasViejas

    Worried I shouldn't have disclosed bipolar

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jenny878's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Welcome to Allnurses.com! You have more company here than you might think; there are a number of nurses with bipolar disorder who post regularly on this site---myself included---and who support each...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Looking the proverbial horse in the mouth

    VivaLasViejas replied to Marshall1's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I've been on Lamictal for some time now. I'm bipolar so it's a mood stabilizer for me, and I tolerate a fairly high dose without issue EXCEPT when I miss a dose. That's when I really notice what it...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Therapy

    VivaLasViejas replied to Vtachy1's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Oh, now, what is it about nursing that could possibly cause us to become anxious? Let me count the
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Unexpected kindness from a nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to Trust in Jesus's topic in Nurses Rock

    Pleeeeeeeeeeease don't let's start THAT old debate
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Therapy

    VivaLasViejas replied to Vtachy1's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I'd start out with a psychiatrist, if for no other reason than he or she can prescribe for you, and a psychologist can't. If you're as lucky as I am, your "p-doc" will also be your therapist, although...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Good News!

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Talk about being in the right place at the right time: One of my good friends is the DON at the nursing home where I worked several years ago (and loved it, till my hours were cut due to chronic low...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    The patients you love working with.

    VivaLasViejas replied to dudette10's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I have a lady on 'my' hall who's not very old (just turned 70 last month and looks younger) but has just about everything wrong with her---diabetic, asthmatic, heart failure, renal disease, dementia,...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Toxic Nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to jenrak's topic in Nursing Humor

    I remember the first time I worked at my current LTC, I went through about six weeks where 9 of my residents died on my shift. Several were due to a nasty flu virus, one was a GI bleed, another was...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    I need help, advice, support, anything you can give

    VivaLasViejas replied to TheLiberation's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Wow.......CP covered it in detail, so there's really not much for me to add other than moral
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Bipolar Disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to HappyJaxRN's topic in Health, Stress Management

    You don't have to apologize for having a mental illness any more than I do. It's the way God made us, and He doesn't make mistakes. What we have to do is live the best lives we can, and if it means...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Am I the only one who hates 12 hour shifts?

    VivaLasViejas replied to jdubs99's topic in General Nursing

    I never liked 12-hour shifts. By the time 0400 rolled around, I was so exhausted that I almost wished all the patients were dead so I could go home and go to sleep! Obviously that is NOT the right...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Can we recommend a medication to a doctor to prescribe?

    VivaLasViejas replied to stallion8797's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I have one nurse-manager who absolutely hates it when I recommend something to the doctors---she thinks it's a scope-of-practice issue---but I do it anyway, because my experience has been that MOST of...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Tired of bedside nursing...HELP

    VivaLasViejas replied to stephanie11's topic in Nursing Career

    I recently went back to the bedside after years of working in executive-level positions in the assisted-living industry. Now I'm wiping hiney and smelling GI bleeds at almost 55, just like I did when...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Looking the proverbial horse in the mouth

    VivaLasViejas replied to Marshall1's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I know how it feels to wish to be "normal" and to try to stuff myself into a "normal" box. Well, after nearly 55 years of trying, I too have come to the conclusion that it can't be done. The trick to...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Extremely Overweight Nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to WonderousIvy's topic in Nursing Career

    The OP would just love working with me.....obese, diabetic, asthmatic, arthritic, AND bipolar to boot. And yet somehow, I work with a building full of people---residents, families, and staff...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Bipolar Disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to HappyJaxRN's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I'm sort of in the same boat with you, Marshall1. The LTC facility that just hired me back on a PRN basis after 3 years away is already sending me to company headquarters for a three-day MDS training...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Do pt families every drive you crazy?

    VivaLasViejas replied to purple10's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    DITTO!!!!
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Bipolar Disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to HappyJaxRN's topic in Health, Stress Management

    You have my sympathies. The shortage of nursing positions makes it extremely difficult for nurses with any kind of medical condition to find something suitable to our needs, thus we wind up...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Life is now vague

    VivaLasViejas replied to ldiva0808's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Please tell us you have access to medical care......a psychiatrist, medications, therapy, whatever you need to battle this thing. And if you don't, there are low-cost clinics in most areas who can...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone in a monitoring program due to their disability?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BeOne77's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    And you know, even some of us with dual diagnosis don't really need the addictions stuff---I was sober for 20 years before I was ever diagnosed with bipolar. I'm dual diagnosis only because of my...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with ADD

    VivaLasViejas replied to happytexas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    A fart in a skillet!!!! I've gotta remember that!!! LOL I also love that you have the Serenity Prayer in your avatar.
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Am I required to disclose a history of depression?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ~mommyof2~'s topic in Nurse Disabilities

    It is none of your employer's business, especially since you have not suffered a recurrence of depression in over five years. Some here might argue with me on this point, but I maintain that our...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Why does the VA draw blood?

    VivaLasViejas replied to FORTHELOVEOF!!!!'s topic in General Nursing

    I've NEVER had blood drawn for employment purposes except way back in 1996 when I first started as a hospital CNA, and that was to check titers. Had to pee in a cup every time,
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Foley Catheter Lubrication

    VivaLasViejas replied to Twinmom06's topic in General Nursing

    I don't know why the lidocaine gel can't be used on a female---this procedure hurts us too!! But I've never seen it done, or used it on a female myself....does anyone know why this isn't standard...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    New Nursing Career: 90 days - UM suggests I voluntarily resign

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNmichaelJ's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Michael, if I could I'd just reach out and give you a huge HUG!! You've been so forthcoming about who you are and what your limits might be, and you are also perceptive and wise and you deserve better...