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

    Stress related near breakdown

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

    FWIW, I went through something similar a few years ago when I got burned out on hospital work. I'd been spiraling downward into depression for some time, going through the hormonal stuff PLUS dealing...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Student Nurses over 35 and Second Career????

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

    I was 36 when I started my nursing program, and worked as a hospital CNA to gain experience while I was pursuing my RN. The work was far more varied and interesting than that in LTC, plus the pay was...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    10 years or longer in nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ICAN!'s topic in General Nursing

    I've got 12 years in and have been very pleased with the variety of options nursing has given me, even with only an associate's degree. I've done acute care, LTC, SNF, assisted living, and consulting;...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Pseudo nursing home: assisted living?

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

    This is why I left assisted living last year. We had 70 residents, 25 of whom should have been in a nursing home.........so what we were doing was running an ICF without ICF staffing, ICF resources,...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    RN taking prescription benzo's for sleep

    VivaLasViejas replied to fireball72's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Several years ago when I was going through the worst part of perimenopause, I asked my PCP for Ativan to help me sleep. It worked like a charm---I still had hot flashes and night sweats, but I slept...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Feeling so depressed....

    VivaLasViejas replied to Trophywife81's topic in California Nursing

    Wave hello to him for me.........I was born in Escondido and grew up in Ramona, and I miss SoCal at this time of year like you would not
  7. VivaLasViejas

    I hate writing...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Aneroo's topic in General Students

    I've been out of nursing school for 12 years, yet my stomach still clenches itself into a knot at the mere mention of APA format. I've always loved writing essays, but in college I quickly learned to...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    music in the nsg home

    VivaLasViejas replied to travel50's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Hey, just think........in a few years, the nursing homes are gonna be rockin' out to the sounds of the Stones, the Grateful Dead, and
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Semi-rant: There is a "reason" why...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Roy Fokker's topic in General Nursing

    As a M/S and ICU nurse, I was GRATEFUL whenever the pt came up from the ED with a patent IV.......and when they had time, the ED nurses would insert the Foley and the NG tubes if the situation called...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Is it okay to dress like a "nurse"?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jo Dirt's topic in General Nursing

    If I could wear the long, gauzy skirts I favor, I'd do it, especially in the summer when it's 110 degrees in the nursing home. But they are definitely not practical, and I won't wear anything...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Dead Babies...To Get It Off My Chest

    VivaLasViejas replied to caddismt's topic in General Nursing

    I'm with Leslie: Call the police NOW, if you haven't already. NO six-month-old infant is old enough, or strong enough, to take being hit........let alone a fragile one like your granddaughter. Please,...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Balance

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tait's topic in General Nursing

    Wow, I'm impressed with how much you've already analyzed this, and I think you know that there really is no answer to it because it's part of the culture of the workplace. Not all healthcare...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    IV Slump

    VivaLasViejas replied to miko014's topic in General Nursing

    Ohhh, I feel your pain, miko! FWIW, I think everybody goes through phases like this. There are the times when you're in what I call "The Zone", when you can't miss even with a 24-gauge on a severely...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Dead Babies...To Get It Off My Chest

    VivaLasViejas replied to caddismt's topic in General Nursing

    This is one of the reasons I chose to work with folks at the other end of life. These are men and women who have had a chance to live full lives, and when they die, it's usually a blessing because...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Is it so wrong to think long term care nursing is boring?

    VivaLasViejas replied to sistasoul's topic in General Nursing

    At this point in my career, I find the 'monotony' of LTC very soothing. In the past decade, I've gone from the insanity of Med/Surg, to the endless rounds of meetings and paperwork as an MDS...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Can't Stand It! A Rant About Floating

    VivaLasViejas replied to Diva7332's topic in General Nursing

    The last hospital I worked at had the same issue, and I suspect it's more common than anyone really knows. Back in my own Med/Surg days, I was cross-trained to OB, so I certainly understood why...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Octuplets

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sweeper933's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Any comment I might make would probably NOT be appreciated........... Those poor kids. What a circus that selfish woman has
  18. VivaLasViejas

    "I hate babies."

    VivaLasViejas replied to babyNP.'s topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I was thinking the same thing. I've even said "Oh, Lord, I hate sick kids," meaning I dread taking care of one because babies and children are my soft spot---which is why I work with folks at the...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Reason for not giving IV push med too fast?

    VivaLasViejas replied to kate64's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Some meds are very hard on veins even when diluted, and can ruin them.......not a pleasant experience. The trouble with IV pushes is that once the drug is in, you can't get it back; of course, the...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Crossroads at age fifty.

    VivaLasViejas replied to minokismom's topic in General Students

    I'm not one to support the notion that 50 is the new 30---I personally woudn't WANT to be 30 again, and certainly don't wish to be held to society's standards for fitness and beauty at that age....
  21. VivaLasViejas

    What type of a nurse are you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to CaLLaCoDe's topic in General Nursing

    I am the kind of nurse who refuses to get involved in office politics and will not say anything bad about anyone on the job........these behaviors are immature and unprofessional. I am the kind of...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    I need help! What is the nursing assessment for diabetic toe necrosis?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Julie Reyes's topic in General Nursing

    When the toes look like raisins and fall off in your hands.........now THAT'S an easy assessment of necrosis. Seriously, this happened to me when I was fresh out of nursing school. I was changing a...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses & Emergency Scenes

    VivaLasViejas replied to rnffemtguy's topic in General Nursing

    I once was the first medical person on a scene at the Portland airport where an elderly woman had got pinned between two vehicles and was going into shock. People were standing around gawking, and I...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Sucker punched. First time I was ever punched by a man.

    VivaLasViejas replied to wonderbee's topic in Psychiatric

    (((((((((((((RNKITTYKAT)))))))))))) This is unacceptable. People MUST be held accountable for abusing healthcare workers, and management MUST back up their employees in situations such as you have...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    What is most important to you in your scrubs?

    VivaLasViejas replied to bayra1ae's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    In a word: COMFORT. I hate stiff, heavy materials and tops that are too short and/or tight.........give me soft cotton with an easy fit any