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

    Do I tell my manager?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseDirtyBird's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Whew.........this is a toughie. To be honest, I'm more concerned that you may be overreaching now that you're feeling better. I've done it countless times myself---and very recently too---and I always...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    After Nursing: Is There Life Out There?

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    An update I wish I didn't have to share........ Our re-survey process began at 0830 Wednesday morning, and it all went downhill from there. What we were expecting was the one surveyor who did the...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Better living--and working--through chemistry.

    VivaLasViejas replied to dudette10's topic in Health, Stress Management

    If I make it till age 62 in this profession, it'll be nothing short of a miracle. ~sigh~ The overwhelming and ever-increasing numbers of rules and regulations make it all but impossible to do a good...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Better living--and working--through chemistry.

    VivaLasViejas replied to dudette10's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Ditto! So glad you've found the magic again, dudette. May it long
  5. VivaLasViejas

    "She's coming back next week", and my weird reaction...

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseCard's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You're singing my song too, NurseCard. I think we all have had the experience of working with a challenging patient/resident who has to go a higher level of care---at least temporarily---and it's...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    A Complicated Surgery for a Politician

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in Nursing Humor

    I'm embarrassed.....by the title of this thread, I kinda assumed that the politician was having something extracted from his lower colon. Like, um, his
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Bullying in nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to erwindt's topic in Critical Care

    .........
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Ever have a patient work your very last nerve?

    VivaLasViejas replied to proud nurse's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    If a patient is well enough to act up, he certainly doesn't need to be in the
  9. VivaLasViejas

    I have a new respect for familes who lose loved ones

    VivaLasViejas replied to Glycerine82's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I lost a newborn daughter 29 years ago today, and as much as it hurt---and still hurts---I've grieved almost as intensely over the loss of certain of my pets, though of course not as long. I remember...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Seeing the person not the illness

    VivaLasViejas replied to marydc's topic in Psychiatric

    Thank you for this. I hope that if I'm ever in a situation like that of your patient, I have someone like you who understands that NO ONE chooses to be mentally ill, let alone lose control of their...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Can I get fired from signing the MARS a night before my next shift

    VivaLasViejas replied to pinkdustmagic28's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    I'm not going to pile on and chastise you for doing this. You know you did wrong, and you seem willing to take responsibility for it even if it does cost you. However, you should also be aware that...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Zyprexa and Ativan IM Compatibility - (Haldol Allergy)

    VivaLasViejas replied to adnrnstudent's topic in Psychiatric

    When giving injectable Ativan at the hospital where I worked, we diluted it in a syringe with an equal amount of NS because it's so thick. We also didn't give it IM because it was still relatively...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Dear Hospice Nurses, I beg you for a moment of your time, please.

    VivaLasViejas replied to CheesePotato's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    ((((((((((CheesePotato and
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses Who Smoke Marijuana

    VivaLasViejas replied to NenaRK's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I totally agree, even though I'm personally a proponent of allowing adults over age 21 to decide for themselves whether or not to use marijuana. I'm an ex-smoker who enjoyed MJ as much as the next...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Texas BON for bipolar disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to bella_'s topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hi, saszone, and Welcome to Allnurses! I think you'll find a lot of kinship here, a good many of us are older and come with a little `ahem` sinus condition, LOL. It's good that you are feeling up...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Texas BON for bipolar disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to bella_'s topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Thanks! If there's any upside to bipolar, it's having these bursts of creative energy that make everything seem possible...if only for a little
  17. VivaLasViejas

    New Grad, School RN, New Dx Mood Disorder, California

    VivaLasViejas replied to squidbilly's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Could you please elaborate on this a little more? I understand about keeping things as private as possible (I am assuming that your user name isn't your real identity), but your message is apt to...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    I feel i am doing the Lord's work

    VivaLasViejas replied to SNB1014's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    Thank you for this reminder of whose vineyard I'm really laboring
  19. VivaLasViejas

    New Grad, School RN, New Dx Mood Disorder, California

    VivaLasViejas replied to squidbilly's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    (((((squidbilly))))) Please be honest with your pdoc and tell him EVERYTHING. Psychiatrists are like everyone else: they can't help you if they're getting only part of the picture. I know all too...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    May I introduce . . .

    VivaLasViejas replied to schooldistrictnurse's topic in School

    Congratulations!!!
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Texas BON for bipolar disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to bella_'s topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Don't give up!! Your doctor/clinic has probably written these letters a hundred times, and they tend to be really generic---as if you could just slip anyone's name in there and call it good. The...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Norovirus

    VivaLasViejas replied to sweetstrwbrry1's topic in General Nursing

    And the fact that it only takes about 20 little tiny virus particles to make you sick, instead of literally millions like a cold or the flu, doesn't help matters much. I got it shortly after the first...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    "Difficult" Patients

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

    I've always tried to invest time in the 'difficult' patient at the beginning of the shift, before I see anyone else. A lot of times, that 10-15 minutes of talking and goal-setting establishes the tone...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Its really NOT a fate worse then death

    VivaLasViejas replied to KRSLPN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I love it when LTC nurses talk about enjoying their jobs.
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing with an Anxiety Disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jennyk1183's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hello, and welcome to Allnurses! Yes, nursing is VERY stressful, and it can (and often does) trigger episodes of mental illness. That said, it is possible to be a nurse---and a successful one---as...