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

    Mistakes make me angry!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to BlearnRN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Mistake free? Whoooooo boy, the only person I ever heard of who fits that description is also known for walking on water and feeding five thousand people with a couple loaves of bread and a fish or...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Ugh---I have to fire an employee tomorrow.

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

    Oh, it went all right, I suppose........I called the employee into my office when he came in to work at 4 yesterday, gave him his final paycheck and termination letter, and said I was sorry, but due...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Ugh---I have to fire an employee tomorrow.

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

    Thanks, Karen.........that was exactly what I needed to hear. Making the tough decisions isn't as easy as it looks from the other side of the desk....it's good to have feedback from someone who's been...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Walmart flip flops

    VivaLasViejas replied to RosesrReder's topic in General Nursing

    Holy crow, that's the last time I buy my grandkids any shoes from Wally World!! Last spring, I bought Eli a pair of Crocs knock-offs for $5 from Wal-Mart. It never crossed my mind that they could be...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Prayer and patient care.

    VivaLasViejas replied to WhiteFlowerRN's topic in General Nursing

    So do I, Leslie. You'd think that as a Catholic I'd be great at formal prayer, but at times of crisis or thanksgiving, I forget every prayer I know and just talk to the Lord as if He were sitting in...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Changes in Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to Rosie07's topic in General Nursing

    Less backbiting and more harmony. We will never truly be considered equals in the health care field until we learn to work together on a professional level, just as doctors, physical therapists, etc....
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Wondering how others deal with RUDE patients, docs, colleagues?????

    VivaLasViejas replied to TrudyRN's topic in General Nursing

    I'm one who likes to "Kill 'em with kindness". This tends to take the wind right out of peoples' sails and can defuse a volatile situation. When I was a hospital nurse, I'd take report and then go see...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Patients on Medicaid

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

    On the other hand, I have known people who managed to live very well while on the system. My youngest niece was one of them..........she owned a Ford Explorer, lived in a nice neighborhood in a...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Pornographic movies

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mrs. M.'s topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    Good thinking! Your resident's lewd behaviors and his right to watch Mediao movies are definitely separate issues, and should be handled as such. When documenting behaviors, your staff should describe...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Hair for nurses?

    VivaLasViejas replied to cherokeesummer's topic in First Year After Licensure

    My hubby's another one who hates short hair. And being considerably overweight, I look pin-headed with short hair, so I grew it back out last year and now it's down to the middle of my back again....
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Spouse of Home Hospice Patient Makes Me Feel "Ookie".....

    VivaLasViejas replied to tencat's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, you should definitely document this in the patient's chart, using direct quotes as much as possible and using wording that's as objective and unemotional as you can make it. If you describe...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Transfering pt to Long term facility

    VivaLasViejas replied to BlearnRN's topic in General Nursing

    Other things that are good to know are diagnosis (you wouldn't believe how many times D/C planners don't give us this basic information!) and ADL status---I don't expect you to know the pt's baseline...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Spouse of Home Hospice Patient Makes Me Feel "Ookie".....

    VivaLasViejas replied to tencat's topic in General Nursing

    I not only wouldn't go back to that house, I would report this unsafe situation to Adult Protective Services (I'm assuming the couple in question are age 65 or over). That man isn't just a "gun-totin'...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Pornographic movies

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mrs. M.'s topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    A student you may be, but you are spot on when it comes to this topic. It sounds like you've had a lot of LTC experience.........you know your stuff! I don't have much to add, other than the fact that...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Lets do this differently for a change.

    VivaLasViejas replied to teeituptom's topic in General Nursing

    Having been on both sides of the equation---newbie and preceptor---I have this to say: We don't have a nurse to waste. I don't understand why so many nurses pick at each other. Our profession does...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    State issued our 30 day notice today

    VivaLasViejas replied to myrlpie's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I'm so sorry this has happened to you and your residents. :icon_hug: In the long run, I'm sure it will be best for all concerned---J-tags are not given lightly---but it's got to be hard on everyone...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Need an Objective Opinion Please!

    VivaLasViejas replied to nicuintern's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    It depends on how badly you want this. Nurses with all kinds of disabilities are employed everywhere. I'm an asthmatic with a bad knee and back; a nurse I went to school with was a type I diabetic on...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    "Slow" codes

    VivaLasViejas replied to txdude35's topic in General Nursing

    Slow codes are unethical, and as much as I might disagree with a decision to resuscitate someone who (IMO) has no quality of life and no chance of any, that's not my decision to make. I think the...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    "Slow" codes

    VivaLasViejas replied to txdude35's topic in MICU, SICU

    Slow codes are unethical, and as much as I might disagree with a decision to resuscitate someone who (IMO) has no quality of life and no chance of any, that's not my decision to make. I think the...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Patients on Medicaid

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

    Moderator's Note: Hmmmmmmm.........I guess I missed the notice that August is National Pooh-Pooh-the-Poor month. There are already two threads elsewhere in the forums that serve the same function....
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Patients on Medicaid

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

    Well, as many a parent and grandparent has said: never judge another until you have walked a mile in his moccasins. Rude, demanding, disrespectful, energy-sapping patients come from all walks of life...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Hospital rescinding job offers, can this happen?

    VivaLasViejas replied to holdensjane's topic in General Nursing

    In a word: No. I'm sorry, but the way things are in today's world, employers "owe" their employees precious little---not money, not benefits, certainly not loyalty. And if you're not actually on the...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    untruthful charting....

    VivaLasViejas replied to DivaNurse2007's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Agree with the above. Never, ever, under any circumstances, document anything less than the absolute truth in a patient's/resident's chart. If it is found out, YOUR license will be on the line---not...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    fired, and questioning reason

    VivaLasViejas replied to tiroka03's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    As an LTC nurse manager, let me offer a slightly different perspective. From the viewpoint of the State, residents of LTC facilities basically have ALL the rights, and caregivers are guilty of abuse...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Med-Surg

    VivaLasViejas replied to David Offenbaker's topic in General Nursing

    In two words: BE FLEXIBLE. In one word: