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

    Receiving a clearence(felony or misdemenor) for the LPN program

    VivaLasViejas replied to mshaw23's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Moved to Nursing Licensure with a Criminal History
  2. VivaLasViejas

    How to handle my father's possible elder abuse

    VivaLasViejas replied to juliekerrmark's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    If you have POA, you have a right to see any and all records associated with your father's care, except of course for incident reports. If the administrators of these facilities are not forthcoming,...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    School parents want girl with peanut allergy sent home

    VivaLasViejas replied to safarirn's topic in School

    I'm sorry, but when I was growing up---and even when my kids were growing up---reasonable parents did not expect school officials to inconvenience the entire student body for the sake of their child...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Advertisement I just saw that made me mad!

    VivaLasViejas replied to handyrn's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    Lest this turn into the 1,001st thread about ADN-vs.-BSN nurses, let me explain that Allnurses.com has no creative control over the content of the ads. The whole BSN=better nursing care thing twerks...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone ever heard of anything like this?

    VivaLasViejas replied to JusBeinANur's topic in General Nursing

    Seriously: get OUT of there while the gettin's good. I've worked for a couple of psychotic administrators, but I'd work at Wal-Mart before staying on the job at a facility like you've described. It's...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses who steal narcotics....

    VivaLasViejas replied to MouseMichelle's topic in General Nursing

    After reviewing this thread and discussing it with other mods, I'm closing it for a time-out to allow some of the heat to escape and ruffled feathers to settle down. TIA for your
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Question about CHF

    VivaLasViejas replied to Ginger80's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Elevate the HOB and the feet if the resident is wheezing/coughing/dyspneic. Check an SaO2 and put on some O's if necessary, and then call the PCP for additional orders.......I've seen people go into...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Unsafe ?? Need opinions....

    VivaLasViejas replied to j464335's topic in General Nursing

    Honestly? It's probably a combination of all of the above. Unfortunately, you may be a bit unrealistic as to the degree of short-staffing; the ratios at your facility are actually fairly decent for...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Holy Abscess! Not for the faint of heart

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in General Nursing

    I've seen some pretty vile things, but what got me about this video was thinking of how ghastly the SMELL of that stuff must've been. Gag. Me. That said: My hubby has a blackhead on his back that...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Medical words that make you cringe.

    VivaLasViejas replied to ~Mi Vida Loca~RN's topic in General Students

    One word: OBESE. It's a term that, even if I didn't know the English language, I'd instinctively stay away from. Sounds like a big ol' tub o' lard......which of course, it
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Pay expected in Assisted Living Facility

    VivaLasViejas replied to Rntr's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Depends on the area, the organization, and the pay structure. As the DNS, I'm salaried management, and I pull down a hair under $60K per year, which is good pay in my neck of the woods. But I had to...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    You've Gotta Know the Lingo

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
  13. VivaLasViejas

    You've Gotta Know the Lingo

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Hey, that's better than having 'em firehose the
  14. VivaLasViejas

    What are the top 5 medications YOU administer daily?

    VivaLasViejas replied to northmississippi's topic in Patient Medications

    Let me guess........you work some kind of
  15. VivaLasViejas

    New to Assisted living: Help?

    VivaLasViejas replied to MommaRN86's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Actually, the responsibility for giving medication correctly lies with the medication assistant.......as long as s/he has been properly trained and/or delegated by an RN. No, they usually don't have...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    You know it's going to be a crazy night at work, when

    VivaLasViejas replied to JennRN65's topic in General Nursing

    When you walk up to the time clock and the entire day shift crew advises you to run while you've still got the
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Rn's, are you able to do job well without chemistry class?

    VivaLasViejas replied to northmississippi's topic in General Students

    Chemistry was required for my nursing program 16 years ago. It definitely helped when I took Nutrition the next semester, but the only thing I've used it for since then was teaching my kids why they...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Signature Home Health

    VivaLasViejas replied to WeirdNurseKelly's topic in Oregon Nursing

    I have never used them in my ALF yet, but they have a good reputation in the Salem area....don't know about anywhere else in the state. They have several different types of programs that most HH...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Need advice..i think one of my managers want me out

    VivaLasViejas replied to asdf80's topic in General Nursing

    Life is too short for bad jobs. I agree with the members who said RUN, do not walk away from this facility. Some years ago, I worked at a hospital where one assistant department manager took a...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Preventing falls in acute rehab center

    VivaLasViejas replied to ebyrn's topic in Rehabilitation

    My advice as a former rehab nurse is to review meds first....many rehab patients are on multiple meds such as opiates, diuretics, and antihypertensives, all of which can contribute to falls. They also...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    What does "I'll do the paperwork" really mean?

    VivaLasViejas replied to MHSA LPN's topic in General Nursing

    That place needs to be called in to the state. ALF acuity is rising just like it is in every other healthcare setting, and these homes can no longer get away with inadequate staffing: they need to be...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Compassion or reality for obese patients?

    VivaLasViejas replied to stefanyjoy's topic in General Nursing

    Overblown? Not so much. I once injured my hand and wrist---badly---by punching a refrigerator. Why I did it is a story for another post; but the day after, my hand was swollen, black and blue, and so...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    How did you escape the floor?

    VivaLasViejas replied to slumdogthousandaire's topic in Nursing Career

    You could always try a job as an MDS coordinator in long-term care, or even become an assisted living nurse who functions as a director of nursing, rather than working the floor. These positions have...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    When is enough enough?

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

    Yeah.....I don't think any of us grows up thinking "I want to be a DON in long-term care" In all seriousness, though, regarding the incident your administrator didn't think needed to be reported: I...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Moving to Northwest Oregon

    VivaLasViejas replied to scaredtorelocate's topic in Oregon Nursing

    The job market here in the mid-Willamette Valley was pretty dry for awhile last summer, even for experienced nurses, but I think it's better now. Check out CareerBuilder and Indeed.com, they have all...