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's with all this disciplinary action?????

    VivaLasViejas replied to Laboratorian's topic in General Nursing

    As usual, Ruby nailed it. FWIW, as a manager I very, very seldom write people up. I prefer to assume that most adverse incidents are a training issue rather than deliberate misconduct......at least...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    personal statement

    VivaLasViejas replied to michlynn's topic in Nursing Career

    Well-written and interesting. The only criticism I have is that it's too long. HR folks are busy, busy people and they will rarely take the time to read more than a couple of paragraphs, so you want...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    What jobs did you do before nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursefrances's topic in General Nursing

    Hmmm.......let's see. I've been a: Mother of four (and anyone who doesn't agree that EVERY mother is a working mother can go chase a cat!) Factory worker Motel/apartment manager Auto detailer (also...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Do we need to take drugs.. in order to do our job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Been there,done that's topic in General Nursing

    This really is a great thread. :yeah:The worst thing about mental illness of any kind is feeling like you're alone in the universe, which occurs mainly because our culture isn't comfortable talking...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Miserable at work

    VivaLasViejas replied to NoahscoopsRN's topic in Nursing Career

    My very first job out of nursing school was like this. I lasted 3 1/2 months. The administrator seemed to think that because she'd had to go through a CNA class while she was in training, she knew...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Resignation Advice & Help Requested

    VivaLasViejas replied to AllieSparksRN's topic in Nursing Career

    Congratulations on your new job!! You must be a wonderful nurse......your patients are going to be very fortunate indeed to have you as their advocate in their final season of life. I think 30 days is...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    "You've got 4 days to improve or else..." ... advice?

    VivaLasViejas replied to CherryLifeSaver2621's topic in Emergency

    Welcome to Allnurses, Cherry! :hug: I hope you'll find what you are looking for here. We're a darn good support group and we're glad you joined us. I'm not an ER nurse so I'm afraid I can't answer...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    I've Failed The NCLEX 8 Times & Now I'm about To Take It 1 More Time...

    VivaLasViejas replied to eutawville11's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    Honestly, I don't think blowing sunshine up the OP's skirts is going to fix this. A reality check, as many posters have provided here, is very much in order as long as we continue to be respectful and...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Thank you, from a former (and future) patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to gooby's topic in General Nursing

    What a wonderful post! Thank you for coming here and sharing that. It's a hard job and a hard life, but when someone like you takes the time to notice what we do, it makes all the effort worthwhile....
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Are they oversharing or am I a prude?

    VivaLasViejas replied to grownuprosie's topic in General Students

    Ewwww......TMI for anyone who's not her husband or OB, as far as I'm
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Do we need to take drugs.. in order to do our job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Been there,done that's topic in General Nursing

    :bowingpur thank you for this post. you have summed it up beautifully. for those who have never had a mood disorder, it would be good to remember, "there but for the grace of god go i". they don't...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Future nurses getting used to the job

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in General Students

    Never barfed or passed out during clinicals, but I about lost my lunch the first time I assisted with a sharp debridement of a stage IV decub. It wasn't the wound itself that got to me, as bad as it...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Bringing work home syndrome.

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

    I'm sorry you've been affected so badly by your mom's issues. :hug:I was inconsistent when my own kids were growing up, and they never really knew what my reactions would be when they messed...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Bringing work home syndrome.

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

    I wouldn't involve co-workers, but if she has any friends outside of work that she trusts, I'd start with them. Does she have any club affiliations, does she attend church? Her pastor or priest could...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Woah!

    VivaLasViejas replied to peaches88's topic in General Nursing

    I've been on both the extreme ends of the love-hate relationship with nursing, and I have to say I really like the middle ground best. :) That is to say, I'm not in love with nursing as I was when I...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Anybody who started out working in a Nursing home as their fisrt RN job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to jobhunting's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, honey.....:hug:You've been on the job two weeks, and you're expecting to perform like a nurse who's been at it for months or years? PLEASE don't be so hard on yourself---it takes a lot more than...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    CNA in OR or WA? What is better?

    VivaLasViejas replied to AnnieBopannie's topic in Oregon Nursing

    Check with the WA state board of nursing to find out if they do CNA by endorsement, or a similar program that would let you work there after you obtain your CNA here in Oregon. Good
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Is being a CNA beneficial?

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

    As a former CNA, I think the best nurses are those who have done the "grunt work". Not only do you learn the profession from the ground up and develop those critical prioritization skills, you know...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Bringing work home syndrome.

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

    Have you considered that your mom may be suffering from anxiety and/or depression? Her work is extremely stressful, and over time she has probably developed some coping mechanisms that are less than...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Camera over each pts bed on the M/S unit.

    VivaLasViejas replied to jlog.j's topic in Medical-Surgical

    This just seems like a horrible invasion of privacy to me. As a patient I would flat-out refuse to allow a camera to record my every stretch, grunt, or burp......hospitals are too much of an open book...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Do nurses have to clean up vomit?

    VivaLasViejas replied to sakiohma's topic in General Students

    Yep, just unwrap that sucker and fold it over the bridge of the patient's nose. I have NO idea why this works more often than not, but I've used it on patients from 18 to 80+ and the relief is...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Differing types of therapeutic self-defense philosophy and techniques

    VivaLasViejas replied to mingez's topic in Psychiatric

    I don't work in Psych, but have dealt with enough psych patients in acute care to have been in some pretty brutal takedowns. At no time were we ever forbidden to ward off a blow, or told we had to...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    You may not be homebound if....

    VivaLasViejas replied to itsgr82cre8's topic in Home Health

    You may not be homebound if you can make it to your grandson's Little League games and twice-weekly massage appointments, but miss your physical therapy
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Do nurses make the worst patients?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Esme12's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    My sister is having hip replacement surgery tomorrow, and you can bet I'll be spending lots of time at the hospital keeping track of things and advocating for her. The patients I worry about the most...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Differing types of therapeutic self-defense philosophy and techniques

    VivaLasViejas replied to mingez's topic in Psychiatric

    I can't think of anything much to say, except I hope that tech sues the pants off the facility and gets his job back with retro pay. NEVER should anyone lose their job for defending themselves...