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 Almost Forgot About Me

    VivaLasViejas replied to MasterStreet's topic in General Nursing

    On my ex-car’s bumper was a sticker that said “I Had a Life, But My Job Ate It.” Being responsible for others’ lives 24/7/365 really burned me out. I miss the facility but not the 50-60 hours...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Not Exactly HIPAA, But Worried I Said Too Much

    VivaLasViejas replied to guest998179's topic in HIPAA Challenges

    Not even close. As far as I’m concerned you are free and clear. Don’t
  3. VivaLasViejas

    ETOHer...(and other slang)

    VivaLasViejas replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    I like the acronyms, like FOF (found on floor) and LOL (little old lady). PITA (pain in the orifice). FOS (full of ‘stuff’)Syndrome. HHH enema—for the young nurses that’s High, Hot and Helluva...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse and Bipolar

    VivaLasViejas replied to Domosuki's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, I have experience with Med/Surg nursing. I worked as a float to the postpartum unit and CCU as well. I only lasted as long as I did (not quite 3 years) because I was frequently pulled to those...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse and Bipolar

    VivaLasViejas replied to Domosuki's topic in General Nursing

    I’m a retired nurse with anxiety and bipolar I who ended up leaving the workforce at 55 because I just couldn’t take it anymore. The first 15 years or so were fine, and I thrived on the adrenaline...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    The Supreme Court has overruled Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision establishing the right to abortion.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Julie's topic in Nursing News

    Thank you. The Bill of Rights speaks of the right to LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That includes the
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Said No Nurse Ever

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in General Nursing

    Of course I enjoy turning 600-pound patients. I wouldn’t get any exercise if it wasn’t for that. —said no nurse
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Pulmonary Embolism

    VivaLasViejas replied to EOC's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I recently had an experience with PE myself. I had fallen and broken my right ankle, and of course it had to be casted and non-weight-bearing status ordered. A few weeks later, I noticed some...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Should I renew license

    VivaLasViejas replied to O2 Princess's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    To be honest, I wouldn’t renew. You may want to place your license into Retired status, that way you can use the initials R.N. as long as you put “Ret.” behind them. Of course, your state may...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    From The Wrong Side of the Bedrails

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    I recently spent some time in the hospital with a DVT that turned into a pulmonary embolism. It was dangerous and scary, and the location of the emboli (saddle PE) was even more so. As it turns out, I...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    From The Wrong Side of the Bedrails

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks. Me
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Pay It Forward Day

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in General Nursing

    Many years ago, my family and I were very poor. It was Christmas time and we had no gifts for the kids. But someone whose name I will never know told a local charity about us, and two days before...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Advice Please! Skilled Nursing to Assisted Living

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

    I was a DNS in assisted living for 7 years, and loved it until the administration started admitting residents who needed memory care, who needed 2-person assist with all ADLs except feeding, who had...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    There's A Bright Side To Night Shift

    VivaLasViejas replied to JBMmom's topic in General Nursing

    I loved nights, until they stopped loving me at around age 40. There were no suits around, few tests, and though we didn’t have a lot of staff, we banded together and helped one another when things...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Compassionate Use Act in Texas

    VivaLasViejas replied to TexRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I’m all in favor of cannabis use when one is off the clock. I’m retired so I can indulge without fear of losing my job if I test positive for THC. But when I was nursing, I knew better than to use...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Having A Nurse As A Patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to SkyDancer77's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I was recently in the hospital for a saddle PE and was treated extremely well, at least partly because I am a retired nurse. They appreciated my nursing stories and told me some of theirs. I was on a...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Taking ADHD meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to ICUBSNRN7's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I hear you ^^. Pretty much the same thing happened to me. My employer waited until I was back from three weeks of medical leave, and sacked me two days later. The explanation was I was unable to...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Working as a CNA in SNF vs. Assisted Living

    VivaLasViejas replied to FutureRNMatt's topic in General Nursing

    You are absolutely right about Brookdale. I worked for them for a whole three months and I was miserable. I had to help serve lunch to the residents with a napkin over my arm instead of doing nursing;...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Working as a CNA in SNF vs. Assisted Living

    VivaLasViejas replied to FutureRNMatt's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, they are licensed by the state if they accept federal funds. But unless there is a complaint, it’s two years between surveys, instead of annually like SNFs and nursing homes. That’s a long...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Working as a CNA in SNF vs. Assisted Living

    VivaLasViejas replied to FutureRNMatt's topic in General Nursing

    You got THAT right. I thought it was bad when I was winding down from my position as the DNS for an assisted living facility in the 2010s. It was at a time when ALFs were experimenting with various...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing Instructor with severe foot problems

    VivaLasViejas replied to feelix's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Have you thought about working for an online nursing school such as Western Governors University? I have a friend who used to be a member here and she loves it. She works from home (no 12-hr shifts)...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Disclosing Psychiatric Care on Hospital Credentialing Application?

    VivaLasViejas replied to CardiacRNLA's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    In your place, I’d just say No. Your personal health and wellness is none of their business. The trouble is if you decompensate and need a medical leave of absence, or accommodations due to your...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    have you been shamed about your mental health?

    VivaLasViejas replied to xbananachipsx's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Having mental illness does NOT make you a bad nurse. Let’s get that out of the way right now. You sound like a nurse who’s conscientious and self-aware enough to know when you’re in trouble...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Daily Rant Thread

    VivaLasViejas replied to Raven Sierra's topic in General Nursing

    Why am I the only person in my family who shuts the bathroom door after they leave so the dogs won’t get in and chew up the toilet
  25. VivaLasViejas

    FMLA for Stress/Mental Health

    VivaLasViejas replied to BunnyBunnyBSNRN's topic in General Nursing

    I once took three weeks of FMLA due to mental health issues. I had no difficulty getting it. The only sticking point was I had to disclose my diagnosis, and that was awkward because bipolar disorder...