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

    Words you never dreamed you would say as a nurse...

    VivaLasViejas replied to ShayRN's topic in General Nursing

    I kind of lost it with a resident just the other night. She's a sundowner anyway, the sort who's perfectly reasonably during the day and street-rat crazy in the evening, but after she screamed...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Things pts do that make you want to go hit your ahead against a brick wall.

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

    Now THAT'S icky. Although I've gotta tell one on my dh: when our kids were babies, he'd check their diapers by sticking a finger down the back. Naturally, he came up with poo as often as...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Things pts do that make you want to go hit your ahead against a brick wall.

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

    At my facility, we have one lady who "fingerpaints" every chance she gets. She is a former RN who would no doubt be ashamed and revolted at her behavior if she still had her wits about her, but a...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Shaved Mons - Phenomenon

    VivaLasViejas replied to recbest's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Even though my oldest daughter, age 27, is a fan of shaving (found that out when she was giving birth to my first grandchild:imbar), I still don't understand why anyone would do that to herself. I had...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    11 Things Your Nurse Thinks (But Will Never Tell You)

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    After dealing with a "Hovercraft" family recently whose loved one was in our Hospice room---supposedly on a five-day respite---I've come up with a new one: "Why on earth would you waste good money to...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    My first colonoscopy

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tim Holloway RN's topic in Nursing Humor

    Now that is HILARIOUS!!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I just can't wait NOT to do
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Depressed about my job-long

    VivaLasViejas replied to birdietiel's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Hi birdietiel!! Welcome to LTC, the toughest job you'll ever love:heartbeat I feel your pain, sister, believe me I do. I've worked every nursing job in LTC, from student nursing assistant all the way...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    You Know You Really Have To Pee When......

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursing Assistant's topic in Nursing Humor

    I can SO relate!! Ever since I first learned to insert catheters, I've had this psychological quirk that forces me to pee BEFORE I put a cath in another person. Even if I don't have to 'go' at a given...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Admit I dread"generalized weekness a/o Dialysis pt, had dialysis today, Full code:"

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sirapples's topic in General Nursing

    When I worked Med/Surg, I absolutely hated getting a direct admit from the clinic. Most of the time they didn't even bring a complete set of admission orders, let alone an IV, a Foley, an NG or any of...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Mandatory Vaccination

    VivaLasViejas replied to Rebel Yell's topic in Disaster Preparation

    I'm pretty militant about flu vaccine for healthcare workers, and in the past have STRONGLY encouraged/cajoled/begged/pleaded/bribed/guilted my staff into getting them for the sake of our...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Enjoyable Depression

    VivaLasViejas replied to markuskristian's topic in General Nursing

    What Miranda describes here is dysthymia, or what a layman would call a low-grade depression. Unlike an acute depressive episode, it's possible to function relatively normally with this kind; the best...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Something to brighten your day

    VivaLasViejas replied to tolerantgirl's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you! And the same to you as
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Announce that you passed your CNA exam here!

    VivaLasViejas replied to jb2u's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    My son just took his CNA boards yesterday, and we should know for sure by Tuesday or Wednesday if he passed. I'm pretty certain he did, because the rater told him he did well even though she really...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    You Know You Really Have To Pee When......

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursing Assistant's topic in Nursing Humor

    You realize that you actually ENVY the patient in whom you're inserting a
  15. VivaLasViejas

    When Is It Ok to Cry?

    VivaLasViejas replied to natron20's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    There is a big difference between showing some honest emotion and being a basket case. It sounds to me like you already know this down deep, and would probably make an excellent hospice nurse. I've...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Discouraged, frustrated... tired of switching JOBS!

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseCard's topic in General Nursing

    I've moved around a lot too in my 12+ years of nursing. My longest-lived job was 2 1/2 years; my shortest, a mere three months. (I only left the 2 1/2 year job because of stupid upper-management...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    I start my new job tomorrow!

    VivaLasViejas replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in General Nursing

    You'll do fine, Sue. There will be nights when it doesn't seem worth the struggle, but doggone it, LTC residents have a way of brightening things up just when you think you can't stand another...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Ten Things A Nurse Doesn't Want to Hear

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Not that I myself am either one, of course.......just that it's possible for a nurse to be both smart and
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Ten Things A Nurse Doesn't Want to Hear

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    I know, some people can't believe that one can be attractive AND smart! What a
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Evening shift??

    VivaLasViejas replied to gogatsby's topic in General Nursing

    That's I roll too..........I love having the time in the mornings and early afternoons to do errands, play on the computer, work on my book etc., so I go to bed shortly after I get home from work....
  21. VivaLasViejas

    MDS Duties

    VivaLasViejas replied to mercy1975's topic in MDS Coordinator Information

    I don't believe I ever spent more than an hour coding an initial MDS, even for Medicare. If your nurses' documentation and the ADL sheets are done right, inputting all the information doesn't take...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Ten Things A Nurse Doesn't Want to Hear

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, I HATE that! Makes me want to turn around and go home........especially when they add "Run while you still
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Ten Things A Nurse Doesn't Want to Hear

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, yeah......... Although I don't stress NEARLY as much as I did when I was in
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Ten Things A Nurse Doesn't Want to Hear

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Well, there's one way to stop that complaint..........wear
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Can another nurse chart on behalf of you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Truegem's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Generally, no. Instead, you'll need to make a late entry in the chart, which by the time you get back from vacation, will likely be somewhere deep in the bowels of the medical records department. You...