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

    Thinking of switching from acute care to LTC

    VivaLasViejas replied to talka1's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Alas, it IS rather a surprise to hospital staff, EMTs, doctors etc. when they learn that the long-term care nurse has a
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Thinking of switching from acute care to LTC

    VivaLasViejas replied to talka1's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Personally, I hated working in nursing homes---the residents' lives are too highly regimented, IMO, and the paperwork is horrendous. But I adore assisted living, which is where I've been working for...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Things you'd LOVE to be able to tell patients, and get away with it.

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

    Moderator's Note: Venting in these forums is, and always will be, encouraged and accepted here at allnurses. However, mean-spirited bashing and/or stereotyping of certain segments of the population...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    ugh.. ill... c. diff??

    VivaLasViejas replied to TiaKay's topic in General Nursing

    Hi, I'm sorry you're feeling sick. Unfortunately, it's beyond the scope of our practice as nurses to offer any sort of medical advice on this board, and as always when you have a medical question, the...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Survey Preparation

    VivaLasViejas replied to mercy1975's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    This is an excellent reference!! I'm a veteran of many surveys, but there was some new information in here even for me. Thank
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Stroke patient blood pressure

    VivaLasViejas replied to ReeseW's topic in MICU, SICU

    That is exactly why the BP needs to stay up (although not in the 'red zone'). If you lower BP too much and/or too fast, it reduces perfusion to the brain and actually extends the damage caused by the...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Why shift diff nights when days are so busy?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Johnny Moo Man's topic in General Nursing

    I've worked all three shifts in acute care, and day shift was the toughest by far. Like another poster said, you get families and other visitors, MDs, surgeries, 'suits', PT/OT/ST, meals, phones,...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    The 10 most insane medical practices in history

    VivaLasViejas replied to NativeSundance's topic in Emergency

    And how about the ridiculous practice of placing women in the lithotomy position for childbirth? Any woman who had kids more than 15 or 20 years ago can tell you that pushing uphill, against gravity,...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Advocacy Roles for Parish Nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in Parish

    I appreciate this as
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Absolute No-No's

    VivaLasViejas replied to Drysolong's topic in General Nursing

    There is NO "5-second rule" in medication administration. If you drop a pill on the floor---GET A NEW PILL. I don't even take pills that fall on the floor in my own home.
  11. VivaLasViejas

    "You are giving up"

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseCard's topic in Nursing Career

    You couldn't pay me enough to go back to med/surg nursing. Two years ago, I walked away from a $30-an-hour job because it literally made me sick, both in body and in mind. Like Suesquatch said, life's...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Hysterectomy Questions

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Ob/Gyn

    OK, the time has come to fight with my insurance company again over my need to have a TAH/BSO. I'm seeing my GYN this next week, and I've been faithfully charting my bleeding episodes over the entire...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Shabbos/Religious Observances

    VivaLasViejas replied to texasmommy's topic in General Nursing

    I never understood those restrictions either, Tweety, and I'm Catholic!:) At least, I was..........nowadays, I guess I can't even call myself a Christian, since I don't practice any religion. I...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    cutaneous t cell lymphoma

    VivaLasViejas replied to 1nugrad's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you to all who posted. Unfortunately, as jnette said, medical advice is beyond the scope of our practice as nurses, and while we wish the OP's friend a swift and easy recovery, we cannot...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Number of Meds per Resident

    VivaLasViejas replied to aander2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You KNOW a lot of confusion is r/t meds---it's inevitable when an 80- or 90-year-old liver can only clear so much at one time! Not to toot my own horn, but I am proud of the fact that I've gotten...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    CNAs hiding linens in the closets.

    VivaLasViejas replied to ari3sdog's topic in Male Nursing Students

    What Canoehead
  17. VivaLasViejas

    EEK! There's a woman in my room!

    VivaLasViejas replied to 58flyer's topic in General Nursing

    I never heard of such a thing before. How terrible that this happened to the OP when he was so young and impressionable........it's the sort of thing that can scar one for life. The fact is, there...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Hoodia for Weight Loss?

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

    Yes, in fact that's what I plan on doing.........as soon as my health insurance company decides to move into the 21st century and cover weight loss surgery! It's not something I could possibly afford...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    The most expensive, silly or cheap gifts you received from your hospital

    VivaLasViejas replied to Shantas's topic in General Nursing

    My husband used to get $500 bonus checks for Christmas from his company, while I received $15.00 gift certificates to a local grocery store. On the other hand, his company didn't pay him squat the...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Whats the best job in healthcare?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ThePrestige's topic in General Nursing

    For me, it doesn't get any better than the job I've held the past couple of years as director of nursing services in an assisted living facility. I have the freedom to be as creative as I want to be,...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Working with groups: Predicting and Preventing Project Failure ...Time Management

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    IMHO, even the best-laid plans and the most inventive concepts can't get off the ground without the cooperation of those "in the trenches", and they are NOT apt to give it willingly if they have no...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing Supervisors=Telemarketers

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in General Nursing

    I'm here to tell you, it's not much fun on the OTHER end of that phone, either. I've been yelled at, hung up on, and cussed out........most often by the husbands/boyfriends of staff members. To say...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    For those of you that have left the bedside....

    VivaLasViejas replied to Lorelai22RN's topic in Nursing Career

    Couldn't go back, shouldn't go back.........wouldn't go back. Actually, I have the best of both worlds at my ALF position---I can do as much (or as little) direct care as I choose, because I'm the DNS...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    How Far Have I Really Come?

    VivaLasViejas replied to cmo421's topic in General Nursing

    Beautiful and eloquent.........I'm fighting a lump in my throat as I type this. Thank you for sharing
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Are Crocs good for Nursing

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

    Yeah.........I just hate it when you're going somewhere in a hurry and the Croc Stop happens, causing one foot to stop short while the rest of you (and whatever you might be carrying) continues in the...