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

    Overuse of antipsychotics in nursing homes

    VivaLasViejas replied to hotflashion's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I don't medicate residents---or ask their PCPs to order medications---if they're only driving me crazy. I do it if they're driving THEMSELVES crazy! Worry, anxiety, irritability, agitation, confusion,...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Comfort care measures.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Forever Sunshine's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    And what about atropine? A couple of drops SL works for the gurgling too, and isn't uncomfortable or frightening like suctioning can be. Good on you, OP, for sticking to your guns! You are someone I'd...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Stumbled in here...

    VivaLasViejas replied to MyheartRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    (((((((((HUGS))))))))) to you
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Why are some people so successful while other's are failing

    VivaLasViejas replied to lifein08's topic in General Nursing

    "To know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived....that is to have succeeded.". That's good enough for me.
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Are many nurses products of abusive/drug dependent homes & parents?

    VivaLasViejas replied to wsp4905's topic in General Nursing

    Well, I'm going to go ahead and buck the trend on this thread by saying that I grew up in an upper-middle-class home where everything looked wholesome on the outside. On the inside.......not so much....
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Why are some people so successful while other's are failing

    VivaLasViejas replied to lifein08's topic in General Nursing

    I think it's mostly a matter of being in the right place at the right time---born to the right parents, attendance at the right schools, finding the right job or coming up with the right idea at the...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Things You Need To Know To Be A Nurse...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nursing Humor

    No matter how impossible it seems..........this shift WILL
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Career Change needed due health reasons....please help

    VivaLasViejas replied to Elizabeth138's topic in Nursing Career

    Welcome to Allnurses, Elizabeth!! :yelclap: Speaking on behalf of the Guides, I hope you enjoy the site and all it has to offer. I'm so sorry you are going through all these trials. I wish I had some...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    One year later as a nurse, what have I learned?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Catch22Personified's topic in General Nursing

    I wouldn't want to dismiss what the OP has to say because he "only" has a year of experience. I'm a grizzled veteran of 15 years and agree with much of what he's said here. Besides, it doesn't really...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Asking family not to visit for a week or two to help a dementia resident adjust?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nascar nurse's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    In most situations, I encourage the family to visit as often as possible in the early days after a resident moves to my facility. I've seen way too many folks who were basically dumped there, and...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    need an honest answer from DON

    VivaLasViejas replied to Ms.RN's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    Immediate suspension, with pay, until investigation is completed. I don't even want someone accused of abuse in my building, let alone working directly with residents. Of course, if I've done MY job...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    You Know You're A Nurse If...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nursing Humor

    When you visit a loved one in the hospital after surgery, and the very first thing you do before you even say hello is to immediately check their IV site and fluids, assess their incision, and make...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Things we think that we do not say... humorous...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Baubo516's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    To the fellow who shot off one testicle and then gave us an encore performance a few months later by shooting off the other one (plus part of his manhood), it was all I could do not to say, "Well,...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Was this a fair consequence?

    VivaLasViejas replied to danachap1's topic in General Nursing

    .....
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Bipolar Disorder NANDA help

    VivaLasViejas replied to eloradannon's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    I'm surprised not to see Ineffective Individual Coping used here. If there's anything bipolars can't do when they're in crisis, it's cope! Granted, it's been 15 years since I used NANDA and my take...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Is attending a patient's funeral overstepping "the" boundary?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BostonTerrierLover's topic in General Nursing

    I've attended maybe a dozen patient funerals in my career, and not once did an employer frown on it. In fact, most of the time they were there too. :-). There are just some patients who profoundly...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Has Nursing hardened you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ThePrincessBride's topic in General Nursing

    What a beautiful, thoughtful, hope-filled post this is. :redbeathe I wish this could be copied and put up on the bulletin board in nursing schools everywhere. Your wisdom and understanding are far...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Great moments in bad judgement

    VivaLasViejas replied to emtb2rn's topic in Emergency

    Gun in waistband of pants + owner in seated position in car + safety off = -1
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Has Nursing hardened you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ThePrincessBride's topic in General Nursing

  20. VivaLasViejas

    Concerns about knee and nursing career

    VivaLasViejas replied to MAD HATTER's topic in General Nursing

    Yeah, I'm waiting to do the TKR until I'm over 60 if I can hold out that long. I've taken care of a lot of post-op patients and know that this is one of the most painful orthopedic surgeries, so I'm...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Can we have a punching bag in the break room?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nursing Humor

    I want
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Demanding Patients

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

    I was generally speaking about those with some (or a lot of) dementia, which is what I deal with every day. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression, for I strongly believe in limit-setting with the...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Concerns about knee and nursing career

    VivaLasViejas replied to MAD HATTER's topic in General Nursing

    Hello, and WELCOME to Allnurses!!! There is no reason you can't become a nurse with a bad knee. I'd suggest you have knee-replacement surgery and be done with it before you get started because the...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Demanding Patients

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

    One of the best time-saving 'gimmicks' I know of is to anticipate the need. If you KNOW Mr. B. is going to ask for his pain pill at 0600 and he's scheduled for 0800 and 2000, try changing the times to...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Staff splitting going too far?

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

    No. She is responsible for her own practice and has to abide by the Nurse Practice Act governing her license, just like an RN. And since you are not her supervisor, there would be even less reason to...