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

    Patients who are my age who blush or dart questions due to embarrassment...

    VivaLasViejas replied to justanewcomer's topic in General Nursing

    If you are young and a female, it's very
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Cabbage Soup Diet!

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

    I can't believe this old chestnut is still suckering people in..........it's been around since the 1960s, an era which spawned a host of horribly unbalanced diets which endangered dieters' health and...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    how do you keep your sexy??

    VivaLasViejas replied to healthcarefome's topic in General Nursing

    That was SO not a problem for me and my dh. He sported tightie whities in our childbearing years, but all he had to do was unzip his jeans at the other end of the house and I was preggers. It's a...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Your Recovery

    VivaLasViejas replied to rninmi's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Through 17 years of sobriety, I've learned that total recovery from substance abuse is impossible, because it IS a disease. All we can do is stop it from progressing by staying clean/sober for the...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    What is this I hear about phasing out the ADNs?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrthoFNP's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I think New York was planning to phase that requirement in over the next 10 years, but otherwise I've never heard of ADNs being on the endangered species list before. Personally, I'm not worried about...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    how do you keep your sexy??

    VivaLasViejas replied to healthcarefome's topic in General Nursing

    TMI..........
  7. VivaLasViejas

    What Song Describes Your Life? What Song Describes Your Attitude Towards Nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to AngelfireRN's topic in General Nursing

    My life song would have to be "(I Have Been) Blessed" by Martina McBride Work song: "She Works Hard for the Money" by Donna
  8. VivaLasViejas

    What's the craziest order you've ever seen?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ozoneranger's topic in General Nursing

    "One 40-oz. Hamm's PO Q 6 h PRN
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Tracking devices?

    VivaLasViejas replied to nurseby07's topic in Home Health

    The day management tries to put a tracking device on me is the day I hang up my stethoscope for good. 'Nuff
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Beer in the morning?

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Oh yeah........tolerance. The thing that makes us alkies believe we DON'T have a problem. At my worst point in the disease, I was able to drink 30 12-ounce beers in one evening...........and I was...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Gastric Banding to treat Type II Diabetes

    VivaLasViejas replied to twistedpupchaser's topic in General Nursing

    My BMI is 56 and I have metabolic syndrome AND osteoarthritis, but my insurance lists bariatric surgery at the top of its Exclusions page..........how do you get past
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Beer in the morning?

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    FWIW, I am an alcoholic, and I never drank in the mornings. Oh, on the rare occasions when I flew someplace, I'd have one Bloody Mary at the airport before boarding, but that was it. The OP's friend...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    CNA's passing meds in Long Term Care

    VivaLasViejas replied to DanChicagoRN's topic in Illinois Nursing

    Are we talking about regular CNAs or CNA IIs, or specially trained CMAs who have taken and passed state exams to be able to pass meds? As a LTC charge nurse, I work with several CMAs who are every...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Beer in the morning?

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Well, you know what they say: "The sun's over the yardarm somewhere"........ I say, drinking at 9 in the morning indicates an issue. But it's not your job to fix your friend; and frankly, I'm more...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Vent re: Charging and staff being "Pulled" or Floated

    VivaLasViejas replied to mjjlRN's topic in General Nursing

    Her age and experience have nothing to do with it---you did the right thing in insisting on pulling this nurse, even after she had her little kitty-fit. I'd have done the very same thing. Besides, YOU...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    10 years or longer in nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ICAN!'s topic in General Nursing

    high velocity intracranial lead therapy..........that is freaking hilarious!!!
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Pseudo nursing home: assisted living?

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

    The 'assessor' at my last facility was the SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR. Yes, a non-medical person was in charge of admissions. This girl would go and "evaluate" potential residents, then hand me...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Gastric Banding to treat Type II Diabetes

    VivaLasViejas replied to twistedpupchaser's topic in General Nursing

    So how come health-insurance companies don't pay for it?? I'd have gotten it done YEARS ago if I'd had insurance benefits that are grounded in 21st-century medical science; as it is, I don't happen to...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    My poor resident

    VivaLasViejas replied to evilolive's topic in General Nursing

    Magic 4---it's the best stuff EVER! It's a topical cream made up of Ativan, Haldol, Phenergan, and I forget which pain medication.......you rub some on the inner part of the forearm, and it works...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    IV Push tips?

    VivaLasViejas replied to KellyCCRN's topic in Online Distance Learning

    Maintain steady pressure on the plunger as you push down, and do it S=L=O=W=L=Y. The last thing you want is for the patient to experience speed shock. Slow and steady wins the
  21. VivaLasViejas

    does working as a nurse count as exercise?

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

    That may be true..........but even some movement helps, especially if you're a former desk jockey and sofa spud like me. I've lost 20 pounds in the last few months without even trying, thanks to my...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Would you put your initials on verbal orders?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Thundercat's topic in General Nursing

    In a word: No. In two words: HELL NO!! There is no safe or legal way that you can sign for an order you didn't take. To do so would be the height of foolishness. I'm presuming you worked hard for your...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Nana forced preemie newborn (less than 9 lbs at the time) to suck on a lollipop.

    VivaLasViejas replied to a_new_grandma's topic in General Nursing

    The OP needs more help with this issue than any Internet message board can give. Thanks to everyone who responded; there is a lot of wisdom here. In sum, though, we cannot offer medical nor legal...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    RN taking prescription benzo's for sleep

    VivaLasViejas replied to fireball72's topic in Nurses Recovery

    It IS possible not to be cross-addicted, although I imagine more people than not do have that problem. For example, my sister has an issue with narcotics, but can take or leave alcohol; she has the...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Need advice about nursing home placement for my grandfather

    VivaLasViejas replied to swirlygirl's topic in General Nursing

    How does your grandfather not qualify for a nursing home, I wonder? He may not be eligible for skilled services, but he certainly should be able to get an ICF (intermediate, or custodial care...