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

    Not sure about bipolar and declaratory order for Board of Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to 953anon's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Wow.......so how did that state's BON justify putting you in a diversion program for being bipolar??! Sure, many BPers have substance-abuse issues along with the illness, but nobody should 'assume'...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Getting over being "grossed out"

    VivaLasViejas replied to grace_lorraine87's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    Ruptured pustules ARE gross. :barf01: Everybody, even longtime nurses like me, has their "nursing Kryptonite"---something that bothers them more than anything else. With me, it's mouths and...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Not sure about bipolar and declaratory order for Board of Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to 953anon's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Other posters have covered this very well, so I hope you're reassured that you really have nothing to disclose. :) Believe me, there's a world of difference between a therapist raising the question of...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Are there any introverted/shy nurses that can give me some advice?

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

    Very wise words, as always, CP. FWIW, there have been studies done that show the OP and others have lots of company! It seems counterintuitive, when you consider how often we have to meet new people...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Too FAT to be a nurse?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Prtar1's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    Never, ever, EVER put your life on hold waiting to lose weight!! Opportunities will come and go, but weight usually stays....I can't even begin to count the number of things I didn't do because I...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Not sure about bipolar and declaratory order for Board of Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to 953anon's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Unfortunately, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is one of those that could theoretically make a nurse unsafe to practice, which is why the BON requires disclosure, although I think it depends on the...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Not sure about bipolar and declaratory order for Board of Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to 953anon's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Here's some good news from a nurse who IS bipolar: You have absolutely nothing to worry about. You do not have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. All you have is one therapist's opinion that BP is a...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    What's the difference between a graduate nurse and an experienced nurse?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nursing Humor

    Yeah. THIS.^^ A graduate nurse says, "That's not the way I was taught in school." An experienced nurse says, "Well, there's school, there's tests, and there's real
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Are you feeling overwhelmed with work?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nurses Rock

    Been there, lived that, got the stress wrinkles to prove
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Those around us are clueless...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nurses Rock

    My family still looks at me as if I've just sprouted three heads when I use medical acronyms and abbreviations in conversation. You'd think they'd be used to it by now,
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Scholarships for nurses in recovery?

    VivaLasViejas replied to gr8fulnrs's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Had any luck yet?
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Do nurse managers work on Memorial Day?

    VivaLasViejas replied to mell260's topic in General Nursing

    No, I get a three-day weekend just like normal folks. ;-) However, I'm on call just in case the fecal matter collides with the oscillatory ventilation system.....or state surveyors walk in the...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Military Time

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tired_Mommy's topic in General Nursing

    Yep, me too.........until I started working in assisted living, where they still believe in using standard time because they presume that unlicensed caregivers are incapable of understanding military...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    dilemma regarding antipsychotics

    VivaLasViejas replied to evanpatten's topic in Psychiatric

    If it weren't for modern psychiatric treatment, the world would be a much poorer (and sadder) place.....because many of the talented people who entertain us, educate us, and care for us would be
  15. VivaLasViejas

    dilemma regarding antipsychotics

    VivaLasViejas replied to evanpatten's topic in Psychiatric

    Thank you for this post. No one who's ever had a serious mental illness can possibly know the kind of hell we go through when we don't have medications to take the edge off the insanity. I'm not a...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses with osteoarthritis?

    VivaLasViejas replied to nicenurselpn's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    (((((nicenurselpn))))) I'm feeling you, sister!! :hug: I too am the family breadwinner, and had to quit floor nursing for good when I blew out my left knee in June 2010 and had to have surgery. I'd...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    I BELIEVE

    VivaLasViejas replied to GitanoRN's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    Beautiful......and so very, very true.
  18. VivaLasViejas

    National Background Check

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

    The people best qualified to answer your questions would be the director of your nursing program, and/or your state Board of Nursing. Your history may or may not disqualify you from a spot in the...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Are nurses blue or white collar workers?

    VivaLasViejas replied to digitiminimi's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I'm an ADN, but consider myself white-collar because I'm in management......that is, when I think about pigeon-holing people at
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Documenting on patient falls or what looks like one in LTC

    VivaLasViejas replied to lumbarpain's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    THAT has to be one of the funniest things I've ever read!!!
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Texting while doing patient care?

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

    That would absolutely not fly with me, whether as the patient or the nursing director (which is what I am IRL). I do not allow my staff to text anywhere but in the break room, when they are ON BREAK....
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Scholarships for nurses in recovery?

    VivaLasViejas replied to gr8fulnrs's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I can't imagine that there wouldn't be a scholarship somewhere out there for students in recovery. You could try Googling some of the more well-known addiction treatment foundations, such as Hazelden...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    aacn nti - what to wear

    VivaLasViejas replied to e-girl's topic in Critical Care

    And be sure to check out the Allnurses.com booth at NTI! You'll get to meet the AN administrative staff plus other members who come by, and they're giving away free stuff---what could be better?...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    hey everyonnneee...I'm tired of this :(

    VivaLasViejas replied to sbem10's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    Psssssst.......hey, I've got some insider information for you: The NLN is a walk in the park. Even though I took it many moons ago, I was only in the middle of my pre-nursing classes---hadn't even...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone from Oregon?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Glenna, LPN's topic in Excelsior College

    Lunah, I didn't know you were from here originally......where were you born, and how long did you live here? I'm in the mid-Willamette Valley area and enjoy hearing from other Oregon