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

    Shift Work is Taking a Toll

    VivaLasViejas replied to joanna73's topic in General Nursing

    That's brutal, joanna. I wouldn't wait the six months, if you can help it......no job is worth exhausting yourself and burning
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Coprophagia And Scatolia In Demented Elderly Residents

    VivaLasViejas replied to TheCommuter's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Working in geriatrics for as long as I have, I don't think there's much I haven't seen as far as demented patients' behaviors are concerned. I've seen them fingerpaint with poop (got to love that...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Trying to pick myself up during my suspension.

    VivaLasViejas replied to KaseyJo's topic in Nurses Recovery

    KaseyJo, please listen to all of the good advice you've been given. You've been through hell the past few months, and you are just not ready to have your whole life happen to you just yet. :hug: I...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Help! Is my nursing career done?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NSY,LPN's topic in Nursing Career

    One thing I would advise you to do is be very, very discreet about what you choose to post regarding your troubles on a public board. All it takes is a few mouse clicks for someone to obtain this...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    New to nursing and recovery!

    VivaLasViejas replied to OneDayAtATime12's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Hello, and Welcome!! You are far from the only nurse out there with a history of substance abuse, so take comfort in knowing that there'll be many fellow recovering alcoholics and addicts working...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    mental health

    VivaLasViejas replied to ~passionateSN~'s topic in General Students

    Like the OP, I was nervous about my psych rotation in nursing school, too.......until I actually went through it and gained an entirely different perspective. The patients weren't any more frightening...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Poetry: Nursing Haiku

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Nurses Rock

    I've posted a couple of these before, but I now present a few new ones for your enjoyment. :) Loads of paperwork, I tried to get out on time, But didn't make it. Doctor wants to know "Did my patient...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    3 things you wish someone would have told you, that you had to find out on your own..

    VivaLasViejas replied to OnlybyHisgraceRN's topic in General Nursing

    If it annoys the co-workers so much, why don't they answer the call
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Alcoholism VS Addiction:What does everyone think?

    VivaLasViejas replied to mona1023's topic in Nurses Recovery

    An addictive personality is an addictive personality, IMHO. The addiction can be ETOH, drugs, sex, food, gambling---any pleasureable activity that the person pursues to the detriment of all other...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    I am sick of being a job hopping RN

    VivaLasViejas replied to Kasandra's topic in Nursing Career

    I'm sorry; I meant no disrespect when I suggested looking within for the answer to the job-hopping dilemma. You asked for advice, and that was what I gave you. But you should be aware that the...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    I am sick of being a job hopping RN

    VivaLasViejas replied to Kasandra's topic in Nursing Career

    I agree with Caliotter. Speaking from the perspective of a nurse who's held 13 nursing jobs in 15 years, I have to say that for some people, job-hopping is a symptom and not just a search for the...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Common nicknames for hospital items.

    VivaLasViejas replied to LifesAJourney's topic in Nursing Humor

    This is fun! Here in the West, we have Christmas trees, gowns, frequent flyers, and transfers to the ECF (Eternal Care Facility) after they've CTD'd (Circled The Drain). Patients with cannulas have...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Did i do the right thing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to adamsmom2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I would have done exactly as you
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Be polite, I don't have superpowers!

    VivaLasViejas replied to EmmaZ06's topic in General Nursing

    Because of the way my brain is wired, I've never been able to handle multiple communications at one time, not even when my kids were little and tried to get my attention when I was on the phone. I've...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    It would be from a nurse not you.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nursing Humor

    Yes.
  16. VivaLasViejas

    My friends have medical questions at all hours of the day...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    Oh HECK no!!!!! Daughter decided to take Mom to the ER when I said words to that effect.
  17. VivaLasViejas

    My friends have medical questions at all hours of the day...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    I once had a neighbor who came over to ask if I'd disimpact her 73-year-old mother who hadn't had a BM in a
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Managing Fungating (Malignant) Wounds

    VivaLasViejas replied to VickyRN's topic in Oncology

    I've seen only one of these wounds, in an elderly nursing home resident with advanced breast CA. The wound basically involved the entire breast......started out quarter-sized and grew to the size of a...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    DON a big borderline?

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

  20. VivaLasViejas

    Dear Hospital Administration...

    VivaLasViejas replied to aboucherrn's topic in General Nursing

    Preach it, sister!!! I've long wondered about these same issues, and I haven't worked in acute care in YEARS. Some things never
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Waiting for appeal, but just got DUI charge. Need help!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to enclavets's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    You're probably not going to like what I have to say, but here goes. For one thing, you'll need to notify the BON (within two weeks in my state, your mileage may vary) of the fact that you were...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Psych Meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to newnp2012's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    As an RN who works with elderly psych patients, (and am a psych patient myself), it's been my experience that PCPs are way out of their league when it comes to prescribing for anything more...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Dieting - You are what you eat

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in General Students

    Reminds me of the time during nursing school when I fixed myself a PB& J sandwich and some chips, and realized I was eating the same kinds of comfort foods I'd consumed in high school.
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Is your hospital trialing TMS?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Topaz7's topic in Psychiatric

    My psychiatrist is the only one in this area that does TMS, and he swears by it. Only problem is, the treatments are around $8000, and insurance doesn't pay for it because it's still considered...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Epic (Nursing) FAILS!

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nursing Humor

    Here's my latest blunder: OK, I'll admit it......I'm not the brightest bulb in the chandelier when it comes to remembering which residents go with which family members. I have 86 souls residing in my...