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

    Mental Health Awareness Month

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    What a GREAT story about your father!! I'd love to meet him.......sounds like my kind of fella. :) Yes, that gun-control issue really makes me want to spit nails, or punch a refrigerator like I did...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Conversation with my kids this morning

    VivaLasViejas replied to JeanettePNP's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Good luck to
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Inability to make a decision..is this what depression and anxiety do?

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

    I agree with what the other members have said thus far---stick with your current course of action and finish your Master's. The other job you've been offered is exactly what someone in your state of...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Do I tell my manager?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseDirtyBird's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Good to hear from you on this. I wish you the very best of luck and hope you'll thrive in the new job!
  5. VivaLasViejas

    He Says/ She says, Who's in Charge?

    VivaLasViejas replied to AngelfireRN's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    What a pile of horse-pucky. In your place, I'd hand in my two weeks' notice tomorrow---the behavior of your co-workers was abominable, to say nothing of unprofessional. Git while the gittin's
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Does nursing change you into an angry person?

    VivaLasViejas replied to DesireeBeyerGreen's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    HAHAHAHA!! Me too Actually, I'm cynical rather than angry. Anger takes more energy than I care to expend at this late point in my career. Besides....just about the time I think I've seen it all, some...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    A Shout Out to All The Nurses.....

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Nurse Disabilities

    .....who have been brave enough to come forward with their mental health issues over the past few months! I'm just amazed at how many of you are speaking out now, and I thank you all for your efforts...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    A Shout Out to All The Nurses.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Thank you! And bless you for sharing your struggles with us......I know it couldn't have been easy for someone who's normally very circumspect. As you might be aware, May is Mental Health Awareness...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Bipolar Nurse Hoping to Open Awareness of Mental Illness

    VivaLasViejas replied to HannaRNBSN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    It all depends on what you can handle. You may want to start out part-time and then work into full-time if you're tolerating things well. Nursing is indeed a stressful occupation and can trigger...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    A Shout Out to All The Nurses.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Thank you, Baubo, you made my day! I'm so sorry about your mom. I cannot even imagine what it must be like to have lost a loved one in a violent manner, and I pray for continued healing and comfort...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Resigning

    VivaLasViejas replied to itsnowornever's topic in Nursing Career

    Don't worry about anyone 'hating' you for leaving. If they're as knowledgeable about your unhappiness with your current position as you say they are, they'll be happy for you! As for management, well,...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    What if the Boston bomber was your pt

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

    I once had to care for the man who burned down my church. Lucky me, to be the only Catholic nurse on the floor that night and get assigned to the arsonist! However, he was very soft-spoken and polite,...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Best Hallucinations Thread

    VivaLasViejas replied to Vespertinas's topic in General Nursing

    I once took care of an eighty-something hospital patient who seemed very much A & O.....she was able to talk about the events of the day, discuss treatments, remember staff names etc. Altogether a...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    night shift depression!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Blink2182's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Um, yeah......I hope this statement means something different than what it seems to mean on the surface. Although to be totally honest, I remember reaching a point when I was working 12-hour nights...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Role of Hospice RN at a death.

    VivaLasViejas replied to HillieRN's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I agree with tewdles. Attending a death can be an emotional minefield, so communication is often best when we use few words, or even when we use no words at all. A hug. A comforting hand holding that...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Has anyone made a medication error and *not* get fired for it?

    VivaLasViejas replied to pinkiepieRN's topic in Patient Medications

    There are 2 kinds of nurses: those who have committed a med error, and those who will. Unless the error was a particularly egregious one, e.g. allowing a full IV bag to run wide open in a CHF patient...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Dr Oz's show on antidepressants...your thoughts?

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

    And that's the real tragedy of mass-market medical advisers like Dr. Oz---they prey on the least informed among our population and fill their heads with garbage. (Much like the rest of daytime...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    No rapid response for a DNR?

    VivaLasViejas replied to AlphaPig's topic in General Nursing

    Exactly! I had this same argument with my PCP when I asked him to sign my POLST form a few years ago when I turned 50. He didn't want to because I was "too young to be a DNR". Well, I'm here to tell...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Terrible Medication Error

    VivaLasViejas replied to rekea526's topic in Patient Medications

    The only nurses who say they've never committed a med error are either fresh out of school or lying. Also, there are two kinds of nurses: the kind who've made a med error, and the kind who will. Learn...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    What is the age of the oldest mom you have taken care of?

    VivaLasViejas replied to angela1207's topic in Ob/Gyn

    The oldest mom I personally have ever cared for was 42. At the time, I was 46 and had just become a grandmother for the first time, and I thought she was crazy to still be having kids at her age. I...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Dr Oz's show on antidepressants...your thoughts?

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

    Ohhh, yeah. I'm sure gonna go for a run and eat my veggies when I'm so depressed I don't even bother to brush my hair or take a shower in the mornings. And no doubt, taking a multivitamin and singing...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    New nurse with severe osteoarthritis and a bad knee

    VivaLasViejas replied to lovinmymac's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I loved the Staff Development part of my LTC jobs. Teaching is a lot of fun in many ways---it's so gratifying when you can see the connections being made in a learner's brain and they GET IT! Come to...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Super Obese

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

    That is because people start in right away with inflammatory statements like "they should pay more out of their social security (than normal-sized folks) for their care" and "how do people let...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    April 2013 Caption Contest: Win $100!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in News, Announcements

    "I was explaining what's going to happen during his
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Kudos to floor nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to hodgieRN's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I'm in total agreement. I worked M/S on and off for five years, and I'd have to be literally homeless and starving in the streets before I'd do it again.....especially under today's circumstances and...