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

    Blood transfusions??? just say no...

    VivaLasViejas replied to macgirl's topic in General Nursing

    I've been in LTC for most of my career and never seen a blood transfusion done on-site. Not that I'm not perfectly capable of performing one---I did them all the time when I worked Med/Surg---but that...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Funeral Home Workers

    VivaLasViejas replied to RescueNinja's topic in General Nursing

    I too have heard horror stories like this one before, but fortunately for all involved I've never personally witnessed such a thing. Maybe it's because I've ALWAYS made it a priority to be in the...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    New nurse in ltc/nervous about inspection

    VivaLasViejas replied to AvasMom11's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I've been through surveys from several different positions, and I can tell you that dealing with surveyors as a charge nurse is a cakewalk compared with doing it as a manager. Usually all they do with...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    My horrible hospital stay. What would you do?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Carebear77's topic in General Nursing

    Unfortunately, this thread has devolved into a medical-advice thread, which is not permitted under our Terms of Service. The OP has received excellent feedback and should, indeed, consult w/ her...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Do you consider yourself a "highly sensitive person" ?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Gentle Giant's topic in General Nursing

    I am a flaming extrovert, but also a highly-sensitive person who is basically thriving in nursing. I only wish this book had been written when I was a child so my parents might have understood me,...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Latent TB

    VivaLasViejas replied to Epona's topic in General Nursing

    OP, you have received excellent feedback here, and as noted previously, it is beyond our scope of practice to diagnose or offer MEDICAL advice. Please see your primary care provider or a qualified NP...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Dilaudid IV - white

    VivaLasViejas replied to independ3nt's topic in Patient Medications

    Definitely sounds like precipitate. Is there anything the Dilaudid could possibly be coming in contact
  8. VivaLasViejas

    How safe do you feel you are from catching infectious diseases?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Aly529's topic in General Nursing

    I've always been fanatical about handwashing and PPE, but earlier in my career I had MRSA cellulitis three different times plus C. diff. However, not only did I work through it all, I think my immune...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Is it ok to take a break??

    VivaLasViejas replied to Bruin's Mom's topic in General Nursing

    Ohhhhhh, yeah.......it is DEFINITELY okay to take some time to recuperate from a job like that. In fact, if you don't you may even wind up back in the same sort of situation again because you won't...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Unit Manager/RN Supervisor Responsibilities

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

    It's wonderful that the unit managers are willing to help out on the floor---certainly something we don't see every day!---but I know from experience that if they're working the floor, they're not...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    How do you handle staffing?

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

    To my mind, the fact that there is a chronic hole in Unit A means it needs permanent staffing, instead of filling the slot with staff from another unit. It's better for continuity of care AND for...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Strange reaction to PPD?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Double-Helix's topic in General Nursing

    I'm sorry, but you really should consult a physician, PA, or nurse practitioner for advice on this. As nurses, we cannot diagnose or treat any medical problem, even something as seemingly innocuous as...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Is associates in nursing useless now?

    VivaLasViejas replied to napahills's topic in Nevada Nursing

    I'm an ADN and have never felt the lack of a higher degree has hurt me in any way, except I did have to give up my part-time community college faculty position as a substitute clinical instructor...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Signing a nurses note for another nurse

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

    Signing someone else's name to any legal document used to be called forgery, which last time I looked was illegal.......a felony, in fact. Definitely not worth the risk,
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Fighting family in Long Term Care

    VivaLasViejas replied to ADPIE1's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    What all of the above said ^^^. :) Calling the police is, of course, the last resort, and I'm happy to say I've never had to take things that far. I have called APS a couple of times in my career,...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    time of death

    VivaLasViejas replied to annmarierichard's topic in General Nursing

    Oh my gosh, that's scared the bejeebers out of me more than once! It's also kind of embarrassing when you pronounce with the family and/or other staff in the room, and suddenly the patient takes a...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Thank you letter post interview

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jenni811's topic in General Nursing

    Phew.........it's getting way too hot in here!!:flmngmd: Please, folks, let's all simmer down and stop the heated exchanges. No Internet message-board post is worth getting this worked up over, and...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    The worst thing I've ever seen on my L&D floor...

    VivaLasViejas replied to adpiRN's topic in Ob/Gyn

    This is exactly why I work with folks at the other end of life's spectrum......I'm very good at being there for elderly patients and their families at the last, but I'd be a basket case if I had to...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    DON not working with my school schedule ...

    VivaLasViejas replied to volcomcna's topic in LPN, LVN Students

    Whoa.......back up the ponies there, amigo! First of all, you're assuming the DON is going to chew on you, plus you seem to think you outrank him because you've been on the job for eight months and...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Sobriety and nursing school interviews

    VivaLasViejas replied to afbc's topic in Nurses Recovery

    First of all: CONGRATULATIONS on staying sober for 15 years!!!!! That is an accomplishment that far too many alcoholics and addicts never achieve---you have much to be proud of, and even more to be...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Abuse Allegations

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

    The problem is, you are a mandatory reporter just as the DON and the administrator are, and if YOU fail to report and the state gets hold of it, you're going down with the others. Believe me, it's not...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    How do you know when you are burnt out on a floor?

    VivaLasViejas replied to beeble's topic in General Nursing

    Look back over your past few months of work; if the bad days outnumber the good, it's probably time for a
  23. VivaLasViejas

    How do you manage hospitalized dementia patients at night?

    VivaLasViejas replied to beeble's topic in General Nursing

    Give 'em something to do---let them fold towels and washcloths (over and over again if they choose), bring them a simple jigsaw puzzle to put together on their overbed table, or offer them a portable...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Sexist Comment by Unit Director

    VivaLasViejas replied to whill08's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    If that were the worst thing I'd ever heard said by a management type of EITHER gender, I'd be a happy
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Tell us about your Allnurses' experience/Journey

    VivaLasViejas replied to Florence NightinFAIL's topic in General Nursing

    I was a lurker in the "way-back" days, late '90s and early 2000's. I finally joined in Sept. '02---ironically enough, because I wanted to find out from other nurses how they were coping with the first...