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

    Update: Why Emotions Matter: Age, Agitation, and Burnout among Registered Nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

  2. VivaLasViejas

    panic every time...

    VivaLasViejas replied to BethT's topic in General Nursing

    You spelled it correctly. I've had it too, and it is an ugly little beastie that made me drop 40 pounds during my second pregnancy many years ago. I literally threw up for nine months straight, almost...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    "I have kids! I need to come in late, need more sick time, etc."

    VivaLasViejas replied to Plagueis's topic in General Nursing

    And then there are the staff members like my 4-to-10 caregiver, who has NO kids but comes in late at least 2-3 times a month because he a) had to check on his uncle in the hospital, b) went to...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Got the phone call, not the letter

    VivaLasViejas replied to Penny8611's topic in General Nursing

    You BOTH will be fine, 'K? :icon_hug: I know how scary this can be. I had a fibroadenoma when I was 28, then when I was 46 I had some calcifications on a routine mammogram that hadn't been there a...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    What options are there for nurses with mobility limitations?

    VivaLasViejas replied to rndlh1996's topic in Nursing Career

    Have you ever thought about assisted living nursing? I've been the DON of a 42-bed facility for two years now, and I love it.......I serve as more of a consultant than a "bedside" nurse, but I can...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    incontinence question

    VivaLasViejas replied to someguygoblue32's topic in General Nursing

    Another thing to try is using a male incontinence pad, e.g. Tena Guards for Men, inside the brief; this provides extra protection without adding to the bulk or increasing perspiration, which can lead...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Are They As Brutal As People Say

    VivaLasViejas replied to kbswife's topic in General Nursing

    Clinical is pretty much like life........you get out of it what you put into it. Me, I loved clinical, so much better than dry classroom lectures and group projects. Fortunately, I also had great...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    I have strep =0(

    VivaLasViejas replied to Valerie Salva's topic in General Nursing

    What Ingelein
  9. VivaLasViejas

    "I have kids! I need to come in late, need more sick time, etc."

    VivaLasViejas replied to Plagueis's topic in General Nursing

    I get this all the time as a DON, usually half an hour before the start of any given shift: "I can't come to work because my daughter has a migraine". "I have to leave an hour early all week because...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Is it ever okay to quit a nursing job without notice?

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in Nursing Career

    No apologies necessary! And NO, it's not horrible to try to preserve what's left of your dignity and your sanity. RUN, do not walk, out of that place---put in some notice if you think you can hang in...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Is it ever okay to quit a nursing job without notice?

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in Nursing Career

    Once in a great while, even the most ethical and professional employee can run right smack into a situation in which s/he suddenly realizes, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that s/he cannot take one...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Things You Wish You Could Tell Managers that Love to Short Staff

    VivaLasViejas replied to Martinette's topic in General Nursing

    My first statement to these administrators would violate the Terms of Service. My second would be less colorful and more to the point:
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Dog Fight (scary kid stories Mom & Nurse)

    VivaLasViejas replied to student-with-no-life's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks to all who have posted here. I'm sorry this happened to the OP and her son. Unfortunately, it's beyond the scope of practice of a nursing message board to offer medical or legal advice, and...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    sick and tired of defending working in geriatrics..

    VivaLasViejas replied to ulmaulma's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You said it best, grammyj! As far as I'm concerned, LTC nurses don't have ANYTHING to apologize for. Instead, we should proudly hold up our heads for persevering in a hard, often thankless job where...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    CPR is PAINFUL!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Munchkin315's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I always am sore for a couple of days after a CPR renewal course. Doing CPR correctly pops a lot of calories, to say nothing of putting you in some uncomfortable positions and making you switch those...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    So Mad I Could Just SCREAM.......

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Well, I called our state ombudsman this morning, and just as I thought, she was aghast. She's like a bloodhound when she gets wind of injustice, and she will track down the originator of this...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    racist comment

    VivaLasViejas replied to XXl-cool's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I'll always remember the NH resident who called me "the little Mexican nurse". She was pretty demented and really didn't know one staff member from another, except I was always kind to her and for...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Funny Things Naieve Medical Personnel Have Said

    VivaLasViejas replied to FranEMTnurse's topic in Nursing Humor

    As a substitute clinical instructor, I once had a 40-something nursing student ask me---in all seriousness---how I'd gotten used to seeing peoples' "privates". Hmmm......let me see, I'd been a mother...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Are we adequately treating pain?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ag01medic's topic in Emergency

    In my area, the ER won't even look at you if you have a DNR order that specifies "comfort measures only", even if you're otherwise healthy as a horse and not in the process of dying. Will someone...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    restructuring the hospital into the Hilton

    VivaLasViejas replied to abbaking's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, dear God, am I glad I don't work in acute care anymore............they were just starting 24/7 room service when I left. I felt like a glorified waitress half the time anyway, even though no one...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Suicide by Self-Neglect?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BlueRidgeHomeRN's topic in General Nursing

    There is such a thing as "passive suicide". I strongly suspect, as Leslie said above, that this fellow is depressed, and if truth be told, probably has a very low opinion of himself. I would also...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    So Mad I Could Just SCREAM.......

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Yes........the POLST form is signed by both patient and PCP, or by family and PCP if the patient is not
  23. VivaLasViejas

    So Mad I Could Just SCREAM.......

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    The patient in question may be 97, but until a couple of days ago she was no more in the active process of dying than you or me. She has been healthy as a horse her entire life---alert, pleasant,...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Crying in front of family d/t pt death

    VivaLasViejas replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    As you go along in your nursing career, you will find that some patient deaths are harder to deal with than others, and in time you'll learn which types of situations you handle well and which are not...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    So Mad I Could Just SCREAM.......

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    The facts came right out of the hospital CEO's mouth, and out of the mouths of the paramedics I spoke with Friday. I sure as heck didn't pull them out of thin air! Of COURSE I understand about DNR...