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

    Bad weekend in LTC, wondering why I am a nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to jensmomrn11's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Hmmmmm......sounds an awful lot like the weekend I had, and I've been in LTC for years! Please, whatever you do, DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP OVER THIS. You did everything by the book, and you did your...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    "Found on Floor" Documentation

    VivaLasViejas replied to stephanienicole87's topic in General Nursing

    We usually fax the MD. They don't have time to come to the phone every time one of their hundreds of patients has a non-injury fall or FOF, so we just send them an FYI and all they have to do is sign...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    "How Can You Stand It?"

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Tewdles, that is a wonderful story about you and your mom!! Thank you so much for sharing it..........you brought tears to my eyes. And FWIW, I'm pretty sure she knows how proud of her you were, and...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Would You Accept Swine Flu Vaccine?

    VivaLasViejas replied to pagandeva2000's topic in Disaster Preparation

    I'd take it in a heartbeat, although I'd probably be tempted to do like the above poster and sneak off somewhere to get it if I was 'mandated'. I am a grown woman and I do not need to be told what...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    "How Can You Stand It?"

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    It's very sweet of you to say that. My 18-year-old son just began his journey today as a student nursing assistant, this being his first day of clinicals. I am thrilled that ONE of my kids got bitten...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    How often do you get sick?

    VivaLasViejas replied to metal_m0nk's topic in General Nursing

    I suppose it depends on your perspective. Me, I don't consider myself "sick" unless I can't get my head OFF the pillow or OUT of the toilet. The last time I was actually ill was when I caught the flu...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    "Fired for NO Reason"

    VivaLasViejas replied to Ruby Vee's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Moderator's Note: Please keep the tone of this discussion polite and respectful, and report any problematic posts (e.g. rude, inflammatory, picking a fight) to the Admin Team. Several posts from the...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Student Nurses automatically CNA's

    VivaLasViejas replied to Ccutie515's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    In Oregon, completion of the first term of nursing school qualifies one to become a CNA. All I had to do was fill out the application and pay the fee---I didn't have to take the exam or do the...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Am I really cut out for this?

    VivaLasViejas replied to MSanders LPN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Yep....here's a few ideas for you. The first thing to remember is: No situation was ever made better by panicking! This means don't freak out and start thinking self-destructive thoughts before you...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    The "Weigh" Out---A Food Management Support Thread

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

    Update, July 24, 2009: I HIT THE 50-POUND MARK YESTERDAY!!!!! Generally, I stay off the scales for weeks at a time, but for some reason, a lot of things have suddenly become a lot easier for me the...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Resident Centered Care

    VivaLasViejas replied to km7100's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Allowing residents to eat and sleep according to their own preferred schedules, not facility convenience. Pets. Plants. Carpeting. Their own furniture. Staff in street clothes instead of scrubs. All...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Country's with socialized medicine vs the USA (Personal Income Tax)

    VivaLasViejas replied to ACU_RN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    This thread has taken some rather nasty turns and needs to be closed for a timeout. Please, folks, let's debate the ISSUE and not individual members. Per Allnurses.com's Terms of Service, personal...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Brookdale Senior Living

    VivaLasViejas replied to joyflnoyz's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I'm in
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Lost my inspiration

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursemike's topic in General Nursing

    Mike, I am so, so sorry about the loss of your friend and mentor.:heartbeat:crying2: I know it doesn't help much now, but PJ's influence will affect and inform the way you practice nursing for the...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    seasoned nurses..less stress in ltc or med/surg

    VivaLasViejas replied to thekid's topic in General Nursing

    I've done both LTC and med/surg, and I can say with relative certainty that you couldn't pay me enough to work a M/S floor again in this lifetime. My current job is on an ICF unit, but I've also...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Give pt 1 can of beer w/each meal

    VivaLasViejas replied to LPN_2005/RN_10's topic in General Nursing

    In the small country hospital where I worked years ago, we had a frequent flyer for whom the admitting doc wrote orders for "1 40-ounce beer PO Q 6 hrs. PRN". I'm not joking. The man had been drinking...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    How would you comfort a dying atheist?

    VivaLasViejas replied to stripbubbles's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    How would I comfort a dying atheist? The same way I would comfort any other dying person...........by providing a hand to hold, a friendly voice, medication to control pain and anxiety, and as much...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Difficult pt, "weird" family dynamics: Tell me why I chose nursing again?

    VivaLasViejas replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You have my sympathies!! I work in LTC and see these behaviors (both pts & families) on a regular basis.........oh, well, at least I can leave the facility at the end of the shift, while they have...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    So Embarassed

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nurse2b123's topic in General Nursing

    I suggest that you check with your primary care provider. I'm sorry, but as nurses, we cannot offer medical advice here, so I would urge you to be evaluated if the issue doesn't resolve within a...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    This site never ceases to amaze me!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tait's topic in General Nursing

    happy birthday, tait!!! hope it's just the beginning of your best year yet!!!
  21. VivaLasViejas

    I do not care anymore

    VivaLasViejas replied to JB2007's topic in General Nursing

    You know, I've been in healthcare for 15 years, and I never thought of my own social life (or lack thereof) in those terms before. Makes all kinds of sense, though. Before I started nursing school, I...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    I have a "weak" stomach.

    VivaLasViejas replied to JeniLyn's topic in General Students

    Me too! And feet.........I find feet utterly revolting. Give me a stage IV decub liberally laced with Pseudomonas any day, I'd rather do the wet-to-dry on that bad boy than cut somebody's long, yellow...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    He asks me "Why am I alive?"

    VivaLasViejas replied to Elliev0223's topic in General Nursing

    I read that one a couple of years ago myself, and I had much the same reaction. It is my firm belief that even if we never learn how we impact other peoples' lives, there is Someone who does, and He...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Does "Looking Good" help you get the nursing job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brother-of-Nurse's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, I dunno...........I have never in my life had trouble getting a job or winning promotions, and as y'all can see I'm far from thin, and I'm certainly not drop-dead gorgeous. Maybe I've been...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    "How Can You Stand It?"

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    :imbar Your post has rendered me speechless (for once), so........Thank