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

    Alcoholism: disease or choice?

    VivaLasViejas replied to HonestRN's topic in Addictions

    I don't recall asking for empathy, so I'm going to presume that the generic "you" was being used in the above post, rather than directed at me personally. :) I can also say in all truthfulness that I...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Alcoholism: disease or choice?

    VivaLasViejas replied to HonestRN's topic in Addictions

    I'm sorry you feel that way, captainmeowbot. It sounds as though your perspective has been colored by your experiences during your marriage to an alcoholic, and that's unfortunate, although certainly...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Etiquette in the OR?

    VivaLasViejas replied to trauma_lama's topic in Operating Room

    Let us hope
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Alcoholism: disease or choice?

    VivaLasViejas replied to HonestRN's topic in Addictions

    Thank you, jackstem. I couldn't have said it better
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Lazy stuck up nurses

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

    I hear ya. There's at least one of those in every workplace; in fact, one can work in almost any business in the land, and expect to find the same cast of characters. I call it SSDD---same (stuff),...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    LPN seeks advice about LTC duties

    VivaLasViejas replied to scrublifenurse10's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Hello~ Being an LPN in a long-term care facility isn't much different from being an RN---you do the same job, and if you're a charge nurse, you have pretty much the same level of authority as an RN in...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    State reportable incident..but who is "state?"

    VivaLasViejas replied to Marshall1's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    In Oregon, "the State" is the Senior and Disabled Services division of the Department of Human Services. We are surveyed annually or biennially, depending on the facility type, by the Client Care...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Lazy stuck up nurses

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

    Whoa......let's back up the ponies there for a moment and look at things a little more calmly first. Generalizations never tell the whole story, and are rarely if ever helpful in situations like this....
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse handing you a coke?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in General Nursing

    We own a set of DVDs that are all about classic TV commercials from the '50s through the '80s. Danged if they didn't try to convince the consumer that EVERYTHING was good for you---not only soda, but...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    License Reinstatement After Revoke Is There Hope?

    VivaLasViejas replied to robigayle's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I think what you've said here is actually a cause for optimism: You've hit bottom. Therefore, there is nowhere to go but UP. I don't mean that flippantly, either. You have literally had your world...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Interview Tips - Director of Care (LTC)

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

    Ok, Vanessa, I'm home now and will try to give you an idea of what you're getting into, and what the management might be looking for. I should first say that each state has its own set of rules and...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Interview Tips - Director of Care (LTC)

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

    Welcome, Vangold!! I'm a veteran LTC nurse, care manager, and DNS, and I'd like to help you if I can. I'm at work right now, but will be happy to answer your questions later this evening. Glad you've...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Thanks ALLNURSES

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

    ((((((Aviationurse)))))) Happy Birthday!! Been there and done that......I know the feeling of despair all too well. But it DOES get better!! I was in your position a couple of years ago at age 51;...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Epic (Nursing) FAILS!

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nursing Humor

    AAAACK........{{{wheeeeeeze}}}........gasp!........ :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I am laughing SO HARD that I can barely breathe!! THAT is just about the funniest thing I've heard all year, hoooEEEEE!...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Epic (Nursing) FAILS!

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nursing Humor

    Thanks! They didn't call me the "Nocturnal Stumblebutt" for nothing We won't even talk about the time I slipped and fell twice in the same shift.....in the same room......with the hospital VP as my...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Simple and quick nursing interventions to show patients we care

    VivaLasViejas replied to november17's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I've long been in the habit of assessing my most complicated (read: "difficult") patient at the very beginning of the shift. Investing even 10 or 15 minutes in such a person can reap HUGE rewards in...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Disheartened

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursein2011's topic in General Nursing

    Hi, RNIn2011. I'm on the other end of the age spectrum with fifty-three years of life and fifteen of nursing under my belt, and what I've learned is that stereotypes and generalizations don't help...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Swearing: hugely unprofessional, mildly irritating or a normal part of speech.

    VivaLasViejas replied to loveoutloud's topic in General Students

    I try, but am not always successful in avoiding the use of curse words in the break room. Most of them talk like truck drivers---and my boss is the worst offender of all of us! But then, they're all...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Placing IVs in shoulder, breast, upper chest

    VivaLasViejas replied to paphgrl's topic in General Nursing

    I've done a couple in the thumb, and several in the foot. Anything more complicated than that and it's time for a PICC or central line,
  20. VivaLasViejas

    LPN license off probation! I made it! yippee!

    VivaLasViejas replied to gr8fulnrs's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I am delighted for you! :yeah:This accomplishment proves that we are never too broken to pick up the pieces and put ourselves back together again if we have the right kind of help. I think you'll be a...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Problems with the aging nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNGriffin's topic in General Nursing

    This thread is getting too heated now to be logical, and that's a shame because it's obviously touched a nerve and got a lot of people thinking....and talking. Perhaps it would be best to step away...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    This is your brain on nursing...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in General Students

    Know what you mean by brain-fry.......I just tried to post an article in the Nursing Humor section and somehow blundered into the wrong area. Again.
  23. VivaLasViejas

    I'm trying my best, but seriously stop putting me down on the phone

    VivaLasViejas replied to Catch22Personified's topic in Emergency

    I was thinking the same thing, caliotter. I've worked with elderly folks for 17 years and this is the first time I've ever heard that PO APAP doesn't reduce fever in them. Wonder why their temp is so...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    dealing with racism on dementia unit?

    VivaLasViejas replied to prob22's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Right away, I hope that there is documentation beng done on these incidents. You're going to need a long paper trail in order to be able to justify to the State why someone needs to be moved, and...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    long....looking for aaa information...substantiated neglect

    VivaLasViejas replied to pnurse68's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    This is the first time I've ever heard of a substantiated neglect/abuse citation against an individual---where I live and work, only the DHS can do this, and citations are always issued against the...