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

    Assisted Living for Resume

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

    I don't think so. Any healthcare experience is good, and if you're passing meds and evaluating residents, you are probably also doing blood-glucose monitoring and insulin administration.....all useful...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Assisted living center says dad is having an affair

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

    We had a similar situation at the ALF where I was the DON for 2 1/2 years. The gentleman involved was married, but because they didn't get along, his wife lived in another facility; the lady was...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    I was just laid off

    VivaLasViejas replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in General Nursing

    Aw, Sue..............seems that if it weren't for bad luck, you'd have no luck at all.....dammit!!:sfxpld: I just keep thinking, Lord, it's got to be time for Sue to catch a break.....and then...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Stupid things said by your non-nurse significant other

    VivaLasViejas replied to Moogie's topic in Nursing Humor

    "Aorta" know better than that!
  5. VivaLasViejas

    My Story...Long...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cherybaby's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I agree with southernbeegirl........you should never attempt to go off benzos cold turkey!! You need to be tapered off under CLOSE medical supervision---otherwise, you risk seizures and even death....
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Please Send Good Vibes my Way!

    VivaLasViejas replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in General Nursing

    Here's hoping all went well, Sue, and that you'll soon be on here telling us you got the
  7. VivaLasViejas

    My Son's Graduation

    VivaLasViejas replied to Magsulfate's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Congratulations to both of you!! My youngest just graduated last Thursday..........which makes me feel pretty old these days, with all 4 of my children now officially "grown" and out of school. Every...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Obama's health plan takes shape

    VivaLasViejas replied to blue note's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Whooeeee, I didn't even know that nut job was still around...........thought he'd long since gone to that great political convention in the
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Survey Is Over!!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I know how stressful surveys can be.........sounds like you got the kind of crew I had last year. It makes an enormous difference when you get people who aren't out to tear you to...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Obama's health plan takes shape

    VivaLasViejas replied to blue note's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    This is very, very disappointing. I had expected better from President Obama and the Democrats, and while I know they're up against an almost impossible-to-defeat insurance juggernaut, I hate to see...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    judgemental nurses/students

    VivaLasViejas replied to k_r_ah's topic in General Nursing

    now that was a masterful post. well said,
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Good care with staffing ratios?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Pooksmom1996's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    Hey, can I come work for you?? Actually, I don't have it bad at all........currently 24 residents with 2.5 CNAs and a med aide who is shared between two units. I even have time most evenings to hang...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    I was fired. Now what?

    VivaLasViejas replied to buickroadmaster2003's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Straight to the nearest employment division office to file for unemployment benefits. Then, ask your former colleagues for professional references. If you want to fight for this job, your next stop...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    What's your favorite "Done with a ton of shifts in a row" routine?

    VivaLasViejas replied to AOx1's topic in General Nursing

    Since I work evenings, I'll come home at the end of a stretch and play on the computer for a couple of hours, chat with my son or my sister if they're up, read in bed for a while, then sleep a little...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    borrowing meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to mom4life's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    One word of caution on 'borrowing' meds: NEVER attempt to do so if the med is a narcotic!! Technically, borrowing from another patient is bad practice and, in the strictest sense, illegal. That...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    A Patient Made Me Cry Today

    VivaLasViejas replied to flightnurse2b's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    What an amazing story...........you are a magnificent nurse! What you did for this poor man may be all in a day's work for you, but for him, it meant the world. Your reward may not be great on earth,...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    ALF RN nursing skills

    VivaLasViejas replied to espritjolieRN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Not at all. You use a lot of physical and psychosocial assessment skills in ALF, but for the most part, you don't even pass meds or give insulin. In fact, I rarely even did wound care or ostomies when...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    overheard a CNA badly verbally abusing an elderly patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cyndi_1985's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You can always report this to the state BON, as CNAs are just as accountable as nurses. And if the facility allows the CNA to continue in this fashion, I'd report it to your state's senior and...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    I Thought I'd Seen It All

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

    Politics is exactly why I went back to the bedside.........sigh............I guess carpet people have to find SOME way to justify their phoney-baloney jobs, eh? So sorry, CapeCod, I know all too well...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Vent!! Why do families think nurses know all about insurance coverage?

    VivaLasViejas replied to txredheadnurse's topic in General Nursing

    "Working the system" is exactly why there are so many rules and regulations........when people abuse the system, it just makes it harder for honest folks to use it for its intended purposes. Good for...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Asking pay rate before being offered the job...

    VivaLasViejas replied to 2BSure's topic in General Nursing

    It's generally considered tacky to ask about the pay rate during an interview, as it gives the impression that "what's in it for me" is more important to the candidate than what he or she can offer...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Vent!! Why do families think nurses know all about insurance coverage?

    VivaLasViejas replied to txredheadnurse's topic in General Nursing

    If you can't think of even one good reason for single-payer health care, there it is.:angryfire 'Nuff said. Back to our regularly scheduled
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Starting over at 50

    VivaLasViejas replied to kolaone's topic in General Nursing

    Guess what? You and I both will be 55 in five years anyway...........would you rather be 55 with that R.N., or without it? If you're in reasonably good health, I see NO reason not to go for it!...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Why is nursing like this?

    VivaLasViejas replied to shine123's topic in First Year After Licensure

    OK. I'm not always that great at explaining things, but here goes: Nursing isn't like a factory job, where there is a linear progression of learning a skill or skills, using the skill(s) over and...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Have we sunken so low? Would you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to achot chavi's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Hey, I'd sign up if I could get a breast REDUCTION, a panniculectomy, and maybe a little blepharoplasty to tighten up these crepey