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

    I am probably tired, but I am sad

    VivaLasViejas replied to qaqueen's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Yes, you probably are tired. Yes, you have a lot on your plate. But you also have empathy and compassion, two qualities which are essential for the life's work you have chosen; and you need not feel...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Spira Shoes !! Yippee!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to freesia29's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    Thanks for posting this info!!! I have dreamed for YEARS of having spring-coil shoes, but the Z-Coil is too heavy (not to mention ugly!) and I know I'd probably be clumsy in them. Makes one wonder why...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Hanging up my stethescope

    VivaLasViejas replied to sissiesmama's topic in General Nursing

    ((((((((Anne)))))))) You are in my thoughts and prayers, for a resolution to your health problems and less stress and strain at home. Please keep us posted,
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Overweight nurse unable to physically manage her responsibilties

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

    That's amazing...........I don't know how she manages bedside nursing at all if she's that heavy. When I hit the 350 mark last summer, plus a few pounds over, I could barely walk from one end of my...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Would you get the vaccine?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Aneroo's topic in Disaster Preparation

    I get a flu shot every year because I'm high-risk due to asthma (and now age as well), plus I work among a very vulnerable population. If and when they come out with a swine flu vaccine that doesn't...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Blind in one eye...can I still be a nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to tripleagraham's topic in General Nursing

    I am legally blind in my left eye, with 20/200 vision which means I can generally make out shapes and colors, but little else. It hasn't held me back one iota..........just need readers so I can see...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Text of H.R. 676: United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved

    VivaLasViejas replied to cwazycwissyRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    :yelclap::yeahthat::w00t::rckn:
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Why Retire? Career Strategies for Third-Age Nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to VickyRN's topic in Nursing Educators, Faculty

    I got started too late in life to be able to even THINK of retirement.........graduated from nursing school at age 38, spent every dime I made (and still do), and never learned how to be smart about...
  9. VivaLasViejas

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

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

    Now THAT is a great idea!! My phone just happens to have that feature, and of course I've got a computer, so that shouldn't be too hard. Thanks, TuTonka! I have to say, I've been at this long enough...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Too nice to be a supervisor?

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

    You don't have to be a jerk to be a good boss. It may make you look better to upper management, but honestly, they aren't the ones you have to work with every day. I too have often been accused of...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Questions on State Visits

    VivaLasViejas replied to Oranges3420's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    FWIW, going through a state survey as a charge nurse is a picnic compared with being a resident care manager or DON! They walked in the door on my very first day of work at my current LTC job, and I...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    ALF resident out for the day without meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to 311ltc's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It's a gray area. There are a lot of variables here; in your place, I would have given the once-daily meds when the resident arrived back at the facility and documented why they were given at that...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Schedules and Double Shifts

    VivaLasViejas replied to babs503's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    As the DON for an assisted-living facility, I never scheduled people for doubles unless it was absolutely necessary, and then only after I'd talked with them first. I don't believe the majority of...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Will you work during a Pandemic?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Goju's topic in Disaster Preparation

    I'd be right there alongside ya, Tweety. Although I have an older sister and grandkids, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't pitch in and help out where I'm needed, health problems or...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Swine flu raises fear of pandemic - Adults and Children

    VivaLasViejas replied to oramar's topic in Disaster Preparation

    Me neither. My family came down with Hong Kong flu when it made its first appearance in '68..........my mother was desperately ill, my dad only slightly less so. I was only nine years old then, but I...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Intuition??

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tweety's topic in General Nursing

    You may have saved that little girl's life. Good on
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Swine flu, yeah I'll work...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jules A's topic in Disaster Preparation

    Well, aren't we punny
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Obama's Health Care plan. Is it a stepping stone to H.R 676, or a road to nowhere?

    VivaLasViejas replied to GCTMT's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    And may I add..........I don't want health INSURANCE. I want health
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Obama's Health Care plan. Is it a stepping stone to H.R 676, or a road to nowhere?

    VivaLasViejas replied to GCTMT's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Any "plan" that keeps the insurance industry in the picture is no better than what we have now, unless all of the companies a) standardize their lists of covered and non-covered services; b)...
  20. VivaLasViejas

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

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

    I lost only 1/2 a pound this past week, so I'm sort of in the dumper about that---I want to get under 300# NOW---but I'm trying to remember that I didn't become this big in a month, or a year, or a...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Ativan for Everything?

    VivaLasViejas replied to smilesandstickers's topic in General Nursing

    Versed..........now you're talking some GOOD stuff!! It's a good thing they don't make that available to the general public, because I'd be all over it I've had it for my last four or five...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Death of special patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to diane227's topic in General Nursing

    I'm with you in spirit, Diane. We all have special patients who leave an imprint on our hearts no matter how long or how short their time with us may be; and when they leave us, they take a part of us...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Newborn Kitten Emergency- Anyone???

    VivaLasViejas replied to canoehead's topic in General Nursing

    The mental pictures are priceless!! HAHAHAHA~~~ I've had to play kitty midwife more than once........I can imagine the scenario all too well.:chuckle One of my cats didn't want me to leave her while...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    do you do med passes in dining room?

    VivaLasViejas replied to retread71's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    With 12 accu-checks and a full med pass to do between 1600 and 1800, I'd never get it all done on time if I were to pull everyone out of the dining hall, one at a time, for their fingersticks. As a...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Ok, so hear's my million dollar question for the week......

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

    In a word: BUSY!!! Granted, my experience as a CNA/tech on a med/surg unit was long ago, but I was fortunate enough to work with nurses who took me under their wings and taught me all sorts of things...