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

    What type of nursing can I do now?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Budzmom's topic in General Nursing

    Welcome to Allnurses, Budzmom!! We're glad you joined us and hope you'll enjoy your membership for years to come. Like you, I have some physical challenges that preclude floor nursing, as well as any...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Am I the only one

    VivaLasViejas replied to emilysmom,RN's topic in Home Health

    It's not unusual for the HH nurses who have patients in my ALF to pick up prescriptions and bring them to us, especially if it's a STAT order. We don't have E-boxes in assisted living, and the med...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Barrier Cream on a Skin Tear?

    VivaLasViejas replied to kparry's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    We always try to approximate the edges with steri-strips, but if there's a skin flap we can't do anything with, we simply cleanse the wound gently with NS and cover with a nonstick pad, then secure...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    What is it about turning 50 that makes you obsessed with your bowels?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BostonTerrierLover's topic in General Nursing

    Me, too!! Fifty-five is just around the corner for me, and I sure wish I had a fat mature 401K, a paid off home, and four children through college (not one of them went except for my 21-year-old, and...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    What is it about turning 50 that makes you obsessed with your bowels?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BostonTerrierLover's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, and BTW Boston......we 50-somethings are NOT 'senior citizens'
  6. VivaLasViejas

    What is it about turning 50 that makes you obsessed with your bowels?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BostonTerrierLover's topic in General Nursing

    It gets better........when my sister (age 65) was in elementary school, they lined up the kids every morning and gave them each a spoonful of castor oil for this exact purpose! Gads, is it any wonder...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    What is it about turning 50 that makes you obsessed with your bowels?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BostonTerrierLover's topic in General Nursing

    FWIW, after 50 things DO change.....I didn't realize it when I actually reached the magical half-century mark several years ago, but things don't work as well as they did. Not even my digestive tract,...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Rough draft of my personal statement

    VivaLasViejas replied to michlynn's topic in Nursing Career

    Well, that's different then. You do have a good story and tell it well. Best of luck to you in pursuing your goals.
  9. VivaLasViejas

    A soon-to-be new grad who actually WANTS to work in geriatrics!

    VivaLasViejas replied to busymommy's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I love my job as a DON in assisted living. :) It's a great job if you love the older population and like to teach and mentor staff, but I wouldn't recommend it to a new grad---you'll want to start out...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    How nervous were you when you took the NCLEX?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in General Students

    I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs! The instant I sat down at the computer, it hit me: four years of my life, not to mention blood, sweat and tears, and it had all boiled down...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Need support, very depressed.

    VivaLasViejas replied to KaseyJo's topic in Nurses Recovery

    If you want to PM another member, you can go to their Profile page and click on the blue "Send Private Message" button toward the top right of the screen. A blank screen will open up. Then you type...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Is turning dying patients comfort care or not?

    VivaLasViejas replied to C0252786's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I've seen it happen a number of times. This phenomenon tends to freak out the family and some of the 'greener' staff members, but in a way it's a blessing because the pt. is usually on their side when...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Critique my cover letter! (seriously, rip this baby apart)

    VivaLasViejas replied to woahmelly's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    I would make a paragraph where it says "Being active within my community....". Shorter paragraphs are usually better at keeping the HR person's attention and are easier on the eyes.
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Do you use a "code name" for psych

    VivaLasViejas replied to glutton4punishment's topic in Emergency

    FWIW, I have a good (and very warped) sense of humor. I just don't find the terms "crazy" or "freak" terribly funny when we're discussing the mentally ill. It's sad to see that the stigma is still...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    permission to poop granted!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Flare's topic in School

    :rotfl: Wish I could say the same.......I don't care if OTHER people poop at work, but I avoid it like the plague! Every now and then it does happen, though, and with my luck, there's usually someone...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Depressed

    VivaLasViejas replied to hypo19's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Okay, let's try eating the elephant one bite at a time. :) First of all, you're going through a lot, for which you (like most women) aren't giving yourself anywhere near enough credit. You're trying...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Do you use a "code name" for psych

    VivaLasViejas replied to glutton4punishment's topic in Emergency

    There are a good many people---including this bipolar nurse---who might have a bit of an issue with that
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Grossest thing that you've experienced?

    VivaLasViejas replied to dirtyhippiegirl's topic in General Nursing

    I developed that same phobia when I was pregnant for the first time. Saw a long black hair that was NOT my own in my refried beans at a Mexican restaurant once, and I couldn't get into the restroom...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Rough draft of my personal statement

    VivaLasViejas replied to michlynn's topic in Nursing Career

    I believe I was the one who advised you on your first draft; perhaps I misunderstood what the assignment was, because I'm surprised your professors would have you write such a piece for employment...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Since when were patients referred to a GUESTS??

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

    "Concierge medicine".......yep, that's what it's coming to. No thanks, I'll stick to my ALF that takes up to 40% Medicaid residents and doesn't expect the staff to bow and scrape according to a...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Grossest thing that you've experienced?

    VivaLasViejas replied to dirtyhippiegirl's topic in General Nursing

    My officemate was reading that and nearly blew her groceries! She started retching and I immediately dashed across the room with a wastebasket.....then I saw what she was looking at and felt a little...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Need support, very depressed.

    VivaLasViejas replied to KaseyJo's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Not pathetic at all, KaseyJo. In your place I would be just as devastated and just as much in need of reassurance....maybe even more. Everything WILL work out for you in the long run, as long as you...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Grossest thing that you've experienced?

    VivaLasViejas replied to dirtyhippiegirl's topic in General Nursing

    OK.......just remember, you asked for it! The other two happened to deal with the same patient. Now, eye stuff and open wounds where you can see to the bone are pretty bad where I'm concerned, but the...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Need support, very depressed.

    VivaLasViejas replied to KaseyJo's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Thank you. It's not as amazing as you might think, though........sometimes it's all I can do to hang on to it. I had the fight to end all fights with my 20-year-old son a couple of weekends ago that...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Employee Survey Time

    VivaLasViejas replied to Blindsided's topic in General Nursing

    The only thing I've requested on surveys for the past two years is better pay for the floor staff and med aides. Guess what, corporate doesn't listen to management either.......these kids are still...