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

    Kidney Stones!

    VivaLasViejas replied to ariannasmom's topic in General Nursing

    I've had all four of my laser lithotripsies done under a general, and actually the worst part of the whole experience was having stents in my ureters for a week post-op (they do this to keep them open...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    If you were administration for a day

    VivaLasViejas replied to military girl's topic in Government, Military

    OK, I'll bite, since I am in administration but don't get to decide how much my staff is paid. SOOOOOOOO.........I would start my caregivers at $12 an hour depending on experience (they currently get...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    "The Jesus Factor"

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, it's good to have Steph
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Controversial Michael Moore Flick 'Sicko' Will Compare U.S. Health Care with Cuba's

    VivaLasViejas replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Please, folks, let's stay on topic and keep things polite. Thank
  5. VivaLasViejas

    "The Jesus Factor"

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in General Nursing

    Yeah, you shoulda seen the 8-pounder a resident presented to me one night......oh, sorry,
  6. VivaLasViejas

    America comes up short.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    I know you believe this nation can and should do better, Viking, as do I. We simply differ in our approaches to solving its problems. Personally, I don't trust the government to take out my trash,...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    America comes up short.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Okay............America is far from perfect. We know this. Our childhood obesity epidemic is well-documented, as is the fact that our diets are often nutritionally deficient, physical education...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Rapid Weight Loss Post Partum?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jo Dirt's topic in Ob/Gyn

    After my first four babies, I dropped anywhere from 50 to 80 pounds within a couple of months (yes, I was seriously overweight then, too). I didn't have a single thing wrong with me, I just lost...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Challenges of ALF and how to handle..

    VivaLasViejas replied to linzz's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    sounds like your facility is a lot like mine---i'm the only licensed person in the building, except of course for the administrator, but he's not a nurse. all the other staff are unlicensed caregivers...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    "The Jesus Factor"

    VivaLasViejas replied to FireStarterRN's topic in General Nursing

    As one of the moderators of this forum, I would like to thank everyone who has posted here thus far. This thread is an excellent example of vigorous, yet respectful debate, and I'm proud to see that...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Whenever you forget why you became a nurse........

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    ..........it's always good to recall the stories all nurses have about the times we made a difference in someone's life. And then share it with another nurse. Here's a brand new one that happened to...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Challenges of ALF and how to handle..

    VivaLasViejas replied to linzz's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    First of all, congratulations on the new job!! You will definitely have your hands full, but here are a few ideas for you: 1) Check out the American Assisted Living Nurses Association website. They...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Whenever you forget why you became a nurse........

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Yep, I needed the reminder too. Although I love nursing, I've become somewhat worn down over the past 2-3 years; that last year I spent in acute care almost took the starch out of me, and I nearly...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Whenever you forget why you became a nurse........

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Good! This is why I hope you and the other nursing students here will not let the negativity you see sometimes get you down.........there are many, many rewards to be had in this profession, and most...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Patient's Suicide

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    I read something in the newspaper tonight that just makes me sick at heart........an elderly gentleman I took care of for three days last weekend was found dead at his home, apparently the victim of a...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Patient's Suicide

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Ooops, I forgot...........thread will now be 'retired'. Thanks to all who
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Patient's Suicide

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you. I appreciate your caring. What a sad story about your ER patient, though.....I hope he went on to his reward eventually. I think I ought to point out that this thread is over 3 years old,...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Administrative Nursing - What is it?

    VivaLasViejas replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in General Nursing

    That's what I do. My title is Health Services Director, and the responsibility is comparable with being a DON or DNS in a nursing home. As an LPN your duties would be somewhat different from mine,...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    So is hospital nursing better than long term care?

    VivaLasViejas replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in General Nursing

    Sue, I'm probably coming at this from a different angle than previous posters, because I've worked both acute AND long-term care. I would hate to see you set your sights on hospital work and then be...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Sleep advice

    VivaLasViejas replied to Liz520's topic in General Nursing

    The posters above have given excellent advice. I'm sorry, but we cannot answer medical questions on a nursing message board, which, as you will learn later in your studies, is beyond the scope of our...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    alli ~ diet pill

    VivaLasViejas replied to Keepstanding's topic in General Nursing

    The heck of it is, if you eat a lowfat diet and exercise regularly, you're going to lose weight anyway..........with or without the pills. Plus, if you do it without 'em, you're going to save...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing Over 50

    VivaLasViejas replied to rplnurse's topic in General Nursing

    I'm not 50 yet, but I'm headed there at the speed of light..........and unfortunately, so are all of my body parts, many of which did not handle the physical stress of hospital work very well. And...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    alli ~ diet pill

    VivaLasViejas replied to Keepstanding's topic in General Nursing

    Hmmmmmmmm..........for some reason, the possibility of experiencing an "oily discharge" or "anal seepage" doesn't do much for me, so I'd have to say NO to Alli.
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Salary for RN in Assisted Living Facility.. (?)

    VivaLasViejas replied to luna770's topic in General Nursing

    I work for a non-profit facility, so my salary is probably below the average for this type of job ($41,650). I supposedly work only 32 hours per week, but most people know how that goes---when you're...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Controversial Michael Moore Flick 'Sicko' Will Compare U.S. Health Care with Cuba's

    VivaLasViejas replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Before making assumptions that I don't walk my talk, please consider that maybe I haven't taken action today because I've been communicating about universal health care with state and federal...