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

    Borrowing Narcs in LTC, ok?

    VivaLasViejas replied to rogle34's topic in General Nursing

    Holy crow!! I don't know what other states do, but here in Oregon, 'borrowing' controlled substances=federal narcotics law violation=BIG TROUBLE. The job-losing, career-ending, criminal-charges type...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    I'm Laine and I'm Alcoholic/Addict

    VivaLasViejas replied to BrayaRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Good for you, Laine!! And
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Hi, I'm Marla and I'm an Alcoholic

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurses Recovery

    That goes both ways, my
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Hi, I'm Thunderwolf and I am a Smoker

    VivaLasViejas replied to Thunderwolf's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Thank you for sharing your story, Wolfie, especially in such an eloquent manner. Smoking is an amazingly easy habit to quit........I know, I did it about 10 times before severe asthma forced me to...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    My name is Tweety and I'm an Alcoholic

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tweety's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I've made it 29 days, three hours, and about fifteen minutes without sugar, and all I can say is, this is a lot tougher than quitting drinking was.........and THAT'S a battle I continue to fight...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse Phobias?

    VivaLasViejas replied to pattycakeRN's topic in General Nursing

    Oral care---especially dentures---and feet give me the willies! Give me an infected Stage IV decub or tracheal suctioning any day...........but hand me a set of teeth with three days' worth of food on...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Told to pee in her depends

    VivaLasViejas replied to dv0806's topic in General Nursing

    Here's another idea, albeit an act of desperation: I have, on two memorable occasions, called non-emergency transport and sent residents to the hospital for a medical evaluation, then notifed the ER...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Hoodia for Weight Loss?

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

    Update: I gave up on the hoodia before I finished the bottle. It didn't really do anything for me except make it possible to delay my first meal of the day, and we all know skipping breakfast is not...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Told to pee in her depends

    VivaLasViejas replied to dv0806's topic in General Nursing

    One thing I would suggest for the future is knowing what your facility's disclosure statement says. This is a state-mandated document given to residents and prospective residents to inform them of...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Told to pee in her depends

    VivaLasViejas replied to dv0806's topic in General Nursing

    At the ALF where I work, the RN/DNS/DON (or whatever you call the nurse in charge) is the ultimate arbiter of when a resident's care needs exceed the facility's ability to provide for them--not the...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Happy Australia Day-2008!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Grace Oz's topic in International Nursing

    happy australia day to all of my friends in the "land down under!!! hope your celebration was a great
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Survey's Over---How Sweet It Is!!!

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Geriatric, LTC

    As anyone who's ever lived through one of these knows, the community-based care survey is one of the most stressful experiences a nurse can face. And if you're a nurse-manager, your stress level...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    LTC State Staffing Tables Jan.2008

    VivaLasViejas replied to Simplepleasures's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    In my state, staffing ratios haven't changed since the 1970s, when many nursing-home residents were still ambulatory and cognitively intact for the most part. If it were up to me, I'd mandate...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Survey's Over---How Sweet It Is!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Thank you........last night I slept better than I have in weeks, and I feel re-energized!
  15. VivaLasViejas

    The Alzheimer's Patient's Prayer

    VivaLasViejas replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Dang......there's something in my eye. And my throat's closing up for some strange reason. Absolutely beautiful, Sue. Thank you so much for sharing
  16. VivaLasViejas

    4 Years for A ADN?!

    VivaLasViejas replied to pumpkin1984's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    It took me 4 years to get my "2-year" degree. I don't regret a single minute of it. Hope this
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Hospitals and the aging nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to Riseupandnurse's topic in General Nursing

    Been there, done that, got the h-e-doublehockeysticks out of there while I still had my sanity and some physical abilities left. Hospitals are not kind to older nurses, nor will they be until their...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Holes in your shoes? Gross!

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

    You and me both, Steph. I hate feet.......even my own! Not fond of mouth stuff, either...ewwwwwwwww:barf01: As for Crocs: the closed kind were the only thing that got me through my last six months of...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Are you happy?

    VivaLasViejas replied to SteveNNP's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, I can say that I'm a happy woman. It has taken me nearly half a century to arrive at this juncture, but far better late than never. Life does have its trials, but it seems to me that these are...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    I Love My Crocs!!

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    I know we've discussed shoes here a number of times; I've been a die-hard New Balance fan for years now, and I still love them. But last weekend I discovered Crocs, at the local Hallmark store of all...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Phobias anyone???

    VivaLasViejas replied to danissa's topic in Psychiatric

    OMG, it's wonderful to know my sister and I aren't the only people with a bird phobia!!! She's scared to death of 'em, and since my own traumatic experience with them at age four (when a couple of...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    The doctor will see your credit now

    VivaLasViejas replied to LydiaNN's topic in General Nursing

    Patients like that will be SOL, that's what.
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Making Room at America's Inn for All God's Children

    VivaLasViejas replied to pickledpepperRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    And what I say is, being in a country illegally doesn't make it one's home any more than sitting in a henhouse makes one a chicken. Okay, NOW I'm
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Making Room at America's Inn for All God's Children

    VivaLasViejas replied to pickledpepperRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Um.........stay where they are and try to make things better there?? Look, I'm not against caring for people---otherwise, why would I be a nurse?---but I think America has enough poor, uninsured,...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Making Room at America's Inn for All God's Children

    VivaLasViejas replied to pickledpepperRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Uhh..........no. This is not their home, although it could be if they'd enter this country legally and go through the proper channels. I grew up in southern California and lived among the Hispanic...