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

    How do I transfer non ambulatory pt from WC?

    VivaLasViejas replied to cutescrubs's topic in General Nursing

    You absolutely must have a lift to transfer a NWB patient. It doesn't matter if they weigh 100 lbs or 300, you can't lift dead weight without risking serious injury to your back. If your home health...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    How to Remain Relevant as You Age

    VivaLasViejas replied to Carol Ebert's topic in Retired Nurses

    I loved this article. I'm a Third Act-er myself and I'm still searching for a way to make this time of my life meaningful to me and useful to others. You have given me food for thought. Thank
  3. VivaLasViejas

    I Am A Sober Nurse, But Only for Today

    VivaLasViejas replied to J.Adderton's topic in General Nursing

    Congratulations on your sobriety. It's hard work but well worth it. I was sober for 26 years before I relapsed last summer, so I know abstinence can be done. Just remember to be ever vigilant, because...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    How Much was your First RN Paycheck?

    VivaLasViejas replied to igottaconquer246's topic in General Nursing

    In 1997 my starting wage was $14/hr. and I thought that was amazing. By the end of my career I was making $30+/hr. Now my son is an RN who makes $57/hr. I shoulda stuck with
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Required to sign warning letter?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Banks44's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Yes, it was definitely overblown and ridiculous. Glad it worked out for
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Trump's 'religious conscience'

    VivaLasViejas replied to PediatricMA's topic in General Nursing

    I find it interesting that our president is so eager to insert religion into politics, because he is anything but a follower of Jesus. That being said, I am against abortion but would never refuse...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Texas BON mental health question. To disclose or not disclose?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mortaaaay's topic in General Nursing

    You would be stating the truth by checking "No". Your bipolar diagnosis does not and has not impaired your nursing practice to date, so you're well within your rights to deny it. As much as BONs are...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Chemical Castration Condition for Parole in Alabama

    VivaLasViejas replied to J.Adderton's topic in Nursing News

    I don't think pedophilia or rape are things that can be eradicated with drugs. Most rape, including child rape and molestation, has more to do with power than sex, and you're not going to fix that by...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    What do sign with?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Gemini616's topic in General Nursing

    I used to do that a lot on personal checks and signing for meds at the pharmacy. Haven't done it in years because I'm no longer in the profession, but every now and then I catch myself about to sign...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Mental health question on Texas BON licensure renewal

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mortaaaay's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Then you can truthfully answer "No" because your condition has not impaired and does not impair your ability to be a safe nurse. With me, bipolar did impair my ability to practice, and when renewal...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Mental health question on Texas BON licensure renewal

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mortaaaay's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Your NP has to follow HIPAA confidentiality rules just like the rest of us. She cannot tell other people about your private conversations or report you to the BON, unless of course you present as...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Clinical resource nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to jml436's topic in General Nursing

    It sounds more to me like a staff development nurse or nurse educator position. Is this in a
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Got Written Up, Cant Stop Thinking About It

    VivaLasViejas replied to ThatNurseThough's topic in General Nursing

    Wow, that no-report business is a disaster waiting to happen. It could have been with your ED patient, if you hadn't corrected it ASAP given the fact that you had a simultaneous admission and...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses secretive about getting another job

    VivaLasViejas replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    I think it's been made abundantly clear that the OP crossed a line by posting about a co-worker's "secretiveness" regarding something that is none of her business. Can we please stop beating this dead...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Is this for Me?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mr. Confused's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I wasn't a whole lot younger than you when I graduated. I earned my CNA certification and worked as a tech in a hospital when I was going through nursing school, which was an excellent way to begin...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    The Healthy Side of Disgust

    VivaLasViejas replied to J.Adderton's topic in General Nursing

    We all have our nursing Kryptonite, to be sure. With my son who's also an RN, it's sputum and other mucus-y secretions. He retches just THINKING about it. Poor guy had to take care of a gentleman with...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    The Healthy Side of Disgust

    VivaLasViejas replied to J.Adderton's topic in General Nursing

    It's so funny, when my kids were little I couldn't clean up their vomit. My poor husband had to deal with it. I was so easily grossed out that I'd puke if someone else in the house did, including the...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses Are Leaving the Bedside In Droves

    VivaLasViejas replied to panurse9999's topic in General Nursing

    Ugh. I remember when the Studer Group came to my hospital. Their recommendations put more and more work on us nurses and turned the place into Disney World. We didn't have scripting, thank God, but we...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Roadkill Cuisine Perks and Pitfalls

    VivaLasViejas replied to J.Adderton's topic in General Nursing

    California "needs" laws for absolutely
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Writing HR to improve chances of getting job

    VivaLasViejas replied to benharold1's topic in General Nursing

    ECF=Extended Care
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Roadkill Cuisine Perks and Pitfalls

    VivaLasViejas replied to J.Adderton's topic in General Nursing

    I live in an area where the roads use up a lot of animals. Unfortunately they are mostly cats, dogs, deer, and lots and lots of skunks. I'm not sure that I'd want to eat roadkill deer (and the others...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    OK, don't sweat small stuff about patients, especially from glasshouse

    VivaLasViejas replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    I know, right? I have a 30-year-old who STILL can't swallow pills very well. I can imagine what that doctor's reaction would have been if he showed up in her
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Now that they approved my reinstatement don't know if I want it

    VivaLasViejas replied to 5150RNKAT's topic in Retired Nurses

    I had a lot of trouble maintaining employment as well, and I lost two different jobs due to bipolar, although that's not what my bosses told me at the time. In November of 2014 I filed for SSDI right...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    The Base Tan Myth on "Don't Fry Day"

    VivaLasViejas replied to J.Adderton's topic in General Nursing

    I grew up in sunny Southern California, and was brown all year round. I also spent my adolescence sunning myself with baby oil and a reflective blanket to lie on. I didn't realize until I'd been in...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    What was nursing like in the year of 2000?

    VivaLasViejas replied to jezun's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    I was an assisted-living nurse (DON) in the year 2000. Back then it was all about taking care of the residents, teaching staff basic nursing care tasks, and making sure the building was always...