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

    How to Ensure I am never in ER Naked

    VivaLasViejas replied to Melissa1971's topic in General Nursing

    After five children, eleven surgeries and Heaven only knows how many medical exams and procedures, I have NO modesty anymore. Seriously, I do understand why others may be more modest than I, and am...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    So.....the infection control nurse busted me.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to mindlor's topic in General Students

    OP, you asked for replies. You got them. Just because they aren't what you were hoping to hear---because most of us agreed with the infection-control nurse---there is no reason to get huffy with the...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    IM Injections

    VivaLasViejas replied to lweatherby's topic in Patient Medications

    Even in the 'old' days when we gave Phenergan IM, it was NEVER given in the deltoid.
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Student loan taking forever to pay off...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nursing Humor

    Student loan payments are the plague of my life. I wish I'd been more aggressive about pursuing scholarships and grants. The PITA factor is such that if I won $50K in a lottery, I'd use it to pay off...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    So.....the infection control nurse busted me.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to mindlor's topic in General Students

    To this I would add BEFORE eating and using the bathroom.... Also, after touching anybody's hair (including your own), after blowing your nose, after wiping a patient's face or touching anything s/he...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    continuing AA after recovery program?

    VivaLasViejas replied to TXRN2's topic in Nurses Recovery

    And then you have the rare bird like me, who went to AA for a few weeks at the beginning and then decided to fly solo. Which I've done, without relapsing, for 20 years. Not that it's been easy, but I...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Thank you to the best staff ever!

    VivaLasViejas replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    :w00t:CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Well
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Romantic evening with a nursing student...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in General Students

    Reminds me of my dh and I during nursing school.......we'd finally get the kids in bed, take our showers, watch a little TV in bed.........and then I'd haul out the books and get started on homework....
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Help with med/surg

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tsatalstrana's topic in Medical-Surgical

    How long is your orientation period? Anything less than 4-6 weeks for a new M/S nurse, or less than 3 months for a new grad, is simply inadequate. Not only that, it takes the vast majority of nurses...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Remember why you became a nurse...

    VivaLasViejas replied to 2bNurseynursenurse1's topic in General Nursing

    Quite possibly one of the most AWESOME posts ever written.
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Need Advice: Defibrillator Training

    VivaLasViejas replied to intheweeds's topic in School

    I don't know if the regulations are different in your state, but where I live you have to be a certified CPR Healthcare Provider instructor with AED training to teach a class. You may want to ask your...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Remember why you became a nurse...

    VivaLasViejas replied to 2bNurseynursenurse1's topic in General Nursing

    Allnurses is big enough for everyone---from idealistic students to new grads to grizzled veterans. There's a place for all of us at this table and it's great that we can sample anything that looks...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Thank you!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Purple_Scrubs's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    What a great post! I'm with you, Purple Scrubs---very grateful that there is a contingent of nurses who enjoy working with the pre-nursing and nursing students here. They seem to have endless...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Lungs sounds assessment question.

    VivaLasViejas replied to pretty70's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I describe lung sounds and where they're located, e.g. "Scattered coorifice crackles heard in LML/diminished breath sounds bilateral bases/lungs clear throughout upper fields A & P...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    New HIPAA forum

    VivaLasViejas replied to sirI's topic in News, Announcements

    What a great idea! If there's anything more often debated around here than LPN-vs-RN or nurses eating their young, it's HIPAA. Nice to have a separate forum for these discussions.
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Family pushing antidepressants...why won't I agree??

    VivaLasViejas replied to Lucky724's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I'm glad short-term AD use worked for you, BluegrassRN. Recent studies have shown that treating situational (not just chronic) depression can offer long-term benefits, even after the meds are...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Fake it til' you make it!

    VivaLasViejas replied to LindseyRN86's topic in General Nursing

    Hey, sometimes I STILL have to "fake it till I make it"! Nursing has so many variables that you could never encounter everything in the course of a career....there will always be something new to deal...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Unappreciated by the patient's family

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

    Families.....sometimes I think my job would be a snap if only I didn't have to deal with them. Some are wonderful, of course, and these are not the ones who give me indigestion; it's the completely...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing classes are easy...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in General Students

    Nursing school was both the hardest and easiest thing I've ever done. Hard because I was raising four young children and working nights and weekends at the hospital, while having severe menstrual...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Do you think I could get kicked out?

    VivaLasViejas replied to w.ross1990's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    Yep......and then that patient discharges later that evening, and you have to start all over again in the morning before
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Do you "friend" your pts on Facebook???

    VivaLasViejas replied to CrazyGoonRN's topic in Private Duty

    My work life and private life are two different entities, although sometimes one will spill over into the other. Although I never complain about work on FB, or post anything there that I wouldn't say...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Ritalin prescribed for daydreaming...

    VivaLasViejas replied to OnlybyHisgraceRN's topic in General Nursing

    Oldest son is an Asperger's kid. The school wanted to medicate him as far back as third grade for what they believed was ADD---his inability to focus and his tendency to talk out of turn---and I said...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Is it possible to be too emotional for nursing?

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

    That depends on you, OP. :) I just keep in mind, "that which does not kill me makes me stronger". I understand what you're saying about being over-emotional, as I too have had emotional and mood...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Help!!! Am i going to get my license?

    VivaLasViejas replied to vincent74allen's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Minor traffic violations themselves are rarely, if ever, a BON issue, but a failure-to-appear or failure-to-comply charge can elevate a traffic ticket to the level of a misdemeanor. IOW, if you missed...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    How do I send Private Messages.

    VivaLasViejas replied to BlackMurse1's topic in General Nursing

    You've got only one more to