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

    Recovering opiate addict: In need of advice

    VivaLasViejas replied to GA_RN2006's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I've been sober for 21 years now and STILL don't consider myself "recovered". Started out in AA, but have accomplished the rest of it with help from family and friends because I felt I needed better...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse with Cyclothymia?

    VivaLasViejas replied to _jackburton's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I have bipolar disorder and am a relatively successful nurse-administrator. From what I understand, cyclothymia is something like "bipolar lite"---the highs aren't as high, the lows not as low---but...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Crusading for Better Mental Health Care: Mental Health Education in Schools

    VivaLasViejas replied to wish_me_luck's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I don't know about anyone else, but I personally am not talking about herding kids into doctors' offices and putting them on medications to make them conform to a school's idea of "normal". Years...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Crusading for Better Mental Health Care: Mental Health Education in Schools

    VivaLasViejas replied to wish_me_luck's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    What an incredible gift it would be to society if children were taught early (and often) about mental illness! It is a fact of life, and I think it's a safe bet that every family on earth has at least...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    I am struggling with patient families lately.

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

    There's been more than one time that I've absolutely adored a resident, but would've given my left arm to evict the family! I've got several of them in my assisted-living community, and I wonder...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    WOW! Feeling off the road completely.

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

    While we can't really answer your questions, may I suggest checking with your HR department to see if there is an employee assistance program (EAP) at your workplace. This is a program that can help...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    What did you get for Christmas?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    An Android tablet from my hubby---something I never expected from him in a million years! Also a carrying case for it and a pair of 24K gold earrings. I didn't think I'd been a particularly good girl...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    A Call to Action from the Nation's Nurses in the Wake of Newtown

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Thank you!
  9. VivaLasViejas

    A Call to Action from the Nation's Nurses in the Wake of Newtown

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    With all due respect---which is more than what my comments received---I'm still not getting how taking ANY sort of weapons away from law-abiding citizens will keep them out of the hands of murderous...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    A Call to Action from the Nation's Nurses in the Wake of Newtown

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    May I gently remind everyone that nurses are not a monolith, and that these professional organizations do not speak for all of us. IMHO, if mental health services were available to every person who...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Do you think psychiatric care is inadequate in the US?

    VivaLasViejas replied to MusicEMT's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I disagree. Not all people with a mental health diagnosis need to be banned from having firearms. If you really were to push that point, even people with occasional depression would be forbidden to...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    We need to advocate for better mental health

    VivaLasViejas replied to NutmeggeRN's topic in School

    Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! I wonder sometimes if society at large has any clue at all how much those of us with MI dread hearing that a horrific crime such as this may have arisen from a...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Chronic lack of energy! New nurse problems.

    VivaLasViejas replied to LucyRn4's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Sometimes fatigue can be a subtle sign of depression. I'm sure being a new nurse in a specialty unit is very stressful, and you may be experiencing some emotional fallout from having to learn so many...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses (and any other healthcare professionals) with mental illness, please read

    VivaLasViejas replied to wish_me_luck's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I don't know how I got so lucky with my current insurance. It's pretty bare-bones, but the MH coverage is outstanding---unlimited visits and only a $50 co-pay. I've been in that office so many times...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Thoughts from a person with Borderline Personality Disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to wish_me_luck's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I feel for you, WML. I don't have BPD, but I salute you for bringing it out into the open because that is the only way that mental illness and its sufferers will ever be taken seriously. Just like...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Bipolar Disorder

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

    duh---duplicate
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Bipolar Disorder

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

    Working nights is probably one of the worst things people with our illness can do to sabotage our stability. And going back and forth between nights and days practically guarantees a mood shift, which...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Moving on.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to TorsadesRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Good work, Torsades.....you are to be congratulated for your foresight and wisdom in making this move. May the coming year bring you new blessings as you start your life over
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses (and any other healthcare professionals) with mental illness, please read

    VivaLasViejas replied to wish_me_luck's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I have been very fortunate in my dealings with the mental health system thus far. As badly as I feared entering it, my introduction to the world of psychiatry has been gentle and not intimidating at...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Satisfaction Survey: Tell Us What You Think of allnurses.com

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

    I've been here just over 10 years, and seen Allnurses go through a lot of changes. I was a moderator for almost six years and remember how we struggled sometimes to find the right balance between...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Work related depression

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

    I could have written your post, OP; the only major differences being that all my kids are grown (although I do have an unemployed Iraq War vet living on my sofa right now) and I have bipolar disorder....
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Personal Statement Requested to Register because of Depression/Anxiety -- Help?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ChicagoMay's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Thank you for your input. I was just talking with my family about this issue today, and they think I should disclose because if I were ever to be reported to the BON for any reason (or NO reason), it...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    "I'm too young for a living will"

    VivaLasViejas replied to somenurse's topic in General Nursing

    Here's a twist: when I filled out my POLST (physician's orders for life-sustaining treatment) form at the age of 50, my doctor told me I was 'too young'!! Especially because I'd chosen to be a DNR. I...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Personal Statement Requested to Register because of Depression/Anxiety -- Help?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ChicagoMay's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Ugh......it's like they're asking you to hand them the baseball bat they're going to beat you with. Sounds like your focus will have to be along the lines of "My depression/anxiety could affect my...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Personal Statement Requested to Register because of Depression/Anxiety -- Help?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ChicagoMay's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm surprised that they would ask you to write the letter, rather than have you get one from a licensed mental health professional attesting to your ability to practice safely; they usually want to...