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

    I just suck at sticking people.

    VivaLasViejas replied to dirtyhippiegirl's topic in General Nursing

    I don't know if this helps, but it took me SIX YEARS to get good at IV insertions. I only got to practice on a rubber arm during nursing school, and if I couldn't hit a 1/4-inch-wide firehose with a...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    A Time You Made a Patient Smile?

    VivaLasViejas replied to amyn87's topic in Nursing Humor

    I had a funny moment with one of my residents just this afternoon. I'd just drawn up her B-12 and brought everything to her room, explaining that I was going to give her her shot, when she asked me...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Did you ever get turned in for neglect after being given too many patients?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Alnitak7's topic in General Nursing

    A word to the wise: it's never a good idea for a nurse to disclose such information, even on a relatively anonymous forum such as Allnurses. It's all too easy to be identified online---a few clicks is...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Vital signs

    VivaLasViejas replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in MDS Coordinator Information

    When I worked LTC, vitals, I&O, and full assessments were done Q shift X 7 days, then it was VS and full assessment once daily until discharged from SNF. We had to chart on these residents every...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    3 types of shifts

    VivaLasViejas replied to Pepper The Cat's topic in General Nursing

    Hey Pepper, I've had a whole WEEK of those Number 3's!! I've had seven falls (all of which were performed by the same two residents), two unanticipated move-outs, no administrator, and one very angry...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Handling the "R" word

    VivaLasViejas replied to LydiaNN's topic in Developmental Disabilities

    I have an awful feeling that the 'r'-word---meaning stupid or idiotic---has come back into use because a lot of us Baby Boomers used the term out of habit back in the '60s and '70s. I remember being...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    What is the difference between an oral and rectal thermometer?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nursing Humor

    :barf01:ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses Share Your Empowering Scriptures :)

    VivaLasViejas replied to wife&mommyRN's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    One of my favorites is Hebrews 11:1---"Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." Sometimes it's hard to hang onto faith when we see suffering and injustice and...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Work ethic, what's your take on it all

    VivaLasViejas replied to cardiacrocks's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I call in for two reasons only: if I can't get my head off the pillow (or out of the toilet), or if I can't maneuver my non-4-WD car up my long, sloping driveway because there's 2 inches of packed ice...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Burned out nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nursing Humor

    The pile of ashes looks like me yesterday, after a family member told my boss that I've been "making things up" about her father, who's declining rapidly and needs to move to a nursing home. She, of...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Gen X,Gen Y,baby boomers in the work place

    VivaLasViejas replied to ktwlpn's topic in General Nursing

    Hey Camo, there's one thing worse than being called "Mom" by younger staff, and that's being called "Dear" and "Sweetie" by store clerks in their 20s and 30s! I'm 53 and this has recently started...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Gratitude

    VivaLasViejas replied to Beverly913's topic in Nurses Recovery

    That's a great start!! Congratulations on your first 60 days---I can promise you that you've already been through the hardest phase of your recovery, and things will gradually get easier as you go...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    problems with "too many chiefs" and etc in my LTC fac

    VivaLasViejas replied to Meg1207's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Whew. Pay heed to the message behind your DON's words---if there was ever a "see you later", that was it. In your situation, I'd be gathering references and updating your resume before you shake the...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Demeaned by a Doctor

    VivaLasViejas replied to chall2011's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I used to be somewhat intimidated by doctors when I was a new nurse. Luckily, I got over it when I realized that a) they are made just like regular humans; b) they eat, drink, eliminate, reproduce,...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    How to cope? Very Sad.

    VivaLasViejas replied to NrsLucky's topic in General Nursing

    What a powerful reminder of the impact nurses have on the lives---and deaths---of those we care for. Honey, you didn't "fail" anyone. I hope the positive reinforcement you're receiving here proves...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    What's Wrong With 21st Century Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to All4NursingRN's topic in General Nursing

    Book smarts are one thing. Life experience is quite another. The best nurses, IMHO, have a combination of both. It's good to have the solid clinical knowledge, the scientific principles, the internal...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    I had eight jobs last year, I'm tired of job hopping. Advice for this year?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseLoveJoy88's topic in General Nursing

    It's been said before, but it bears repeating: "Accepting the fact that you have a problem is half the battle won". OP, you've admitted you have commitment issues when it comes to holding onto a job....
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Alcoholism: disease or choice?

    VivaLasViejas replied to HonestRN's topic in Addictions

    And you have a lot to learn. :) We alcoholics/substance abusers CAN choose to engage in our addictions---or not---but we do not choose to have the disease of addiction, any more than one chooses to...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    More insulin questions

    VivaLasViejas replied to beatrice1's topic in Diabetes, Endocrine Nursing

    What mammac5 said.^ 1530 is way too early to be checking FSBS. If that's the time your facility chose, you may need to become an advocate for changing it to 1630 or even later, as the short- and...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Working with stipulations

    VivaLasViejas replied to backtowork's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing! And remember: sometimes, you don't have the luxury of working through recovery one day at a time---sometimes it's one CRISIS at a time, one...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    nurses that take anxiety meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to forgivenfaith119's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    It is NONE of your employer's concern. Even physical exam information is on a need-to-know basis, and you absolutely DO NOT have to share anything sensitive. The only case in which you would need to...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Thought-provoking article on "hospice abuse"

    VivaLasViejas replied to heron's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Well, I can't say for certain that situations like this never happen in good hospices, but I personally have never seen anything like it, and I've worked with many hospice patients---and many...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone else feel like a robot reciting customer service scripts all the time?

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

    I just love all this.....NOT. Our local Magnet hospital sends our residents back to us in all kinds of unstable situations after an ER visit, but on the discharge papers they like to remind us that...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    What is your personal philosophy of nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to lcheinz36's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    This is a good question. I'd never really thought about it before, but now that I have, I'd have to say that it's impossible to separate my personal philosophy of nursing from my philosophy of life....
  25. VivaLasViejas

    So unhappy, then a huge life change--is this a sign?

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

    Please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother. :hug: Whatever else you do, first be gentle with yourself and don't make any major decisions now. Who knows, the sign you're looking for could...