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

    "Older" nurses and 12 hour shifts

    VivaLasViejas replied to MQ Edna's topic in General Nursing

    I haven't been able to do 12's on any kind of regular basis since my early 40s. It's just too hard on the body and mind for me, and the four days off never happened together so I didn't get the long...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Morbidly obese patients

    VivaLasViejas replied to 1husband's topic in General Nursing

    Agreed. Please, let's not turn this into another thread bashing the obese....we already have enough problems as it
  3. VivaLasViejas

    flu shot clinic??

    VivaLasViejas replied to tiffany0711's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I've done a number of flu shot clinics, and let me tell you, this is the best way I know of to get good at IM's really fast! I usually have the person dangle their arm to prevent the muscle from...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Tips for new nurses to protect license

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

    1) Document. 2) Document. 3) DOCUMENT!!! None of us likes all the paperwork involved in nursing, but try thinking of your documentation as giving yourself credit for all the good work you're doing....
  5. VivaLasViejas

    4.0 GPA ...Great memorizing abilities.Yes...Good thinking/reasoning skills maybe not!

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNsoon!'s topic in General Nursing

    Folks, after moderator discussion, it has been decided to close this thread down. The topic has been hashed over in just about every way possible, and some responses have been rather 'testy'; that...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Good job gone bad-I'm FRIED (warning long post)

    VivaLasViejas replied to MsPiggy's topic in Psychiatric

    I'm glad to hear that. Good luck to you in your work search. Life is too short for bad jobs---hang in there, I'm sure you'll find something better
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Extubated my patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to BlueEyedRN's topic in General Nursing

    What rn/writer said. There is an enormous difference between actively taking a life and simply allowing Nature to take its course. A very wise nurse I used to work with back when I was a CNA once took...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    The non-medical aspects of patient care

    VivaLasViejas replied to LiveZen's topic in General Nursing

    :yeahthat:
  9. VivaLasViejas

    12 patients in a day on the floors

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseCherlove's topic in General Nursing

    In my last hospital job, EVERY DAY was like that for me.........and I only worked 8 hour shifts, so I had to do 12 hours worth of work!! It was not at all unusual to be pulled to three different units...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Good job gone bad-I'm FRIED (warning long post)

    VivaLasViejas replied to MsPiggy's topic in Psychiatric

    I proably should've mentioned this in my previous post, but when I left my toxic job last December, it was nine days before Christmas, I didn't have another job lined up, and I went eight months...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    " I would never remain a bedside Nurse."

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNsoon!'s topic in General Nursing

    I loved being a bedside nurse, but conditions in the hospital where I worked were so bad that I literally feared for my license every day I was on duty. Not only that, I couldn't handle the physical...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    I have an interview on Tuesday!

    VivaLasViejas replied to DutchgirlRN's topic in Home Health

    Joanna, I'm so happy for you!! I know things have been really stressful for you lately..........maybe this will be the start of a big turnaround. I wish you the best of luck, both during your...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Question about dying ....

    VivaLasViejas replied to KellieNurse06's topic in General Nursing

    I'm so sorry your uncle is having such a hard time of things. To answer your question: yes, sometimes a person's eyes appear somewhat cloudy or opaque toward the end of life. You may also notice his...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    What would you do?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nice2MeetU's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I've stayed out of this discussion because there's been some negative energy that I didn't want to address. This is nowhere near as simple as some would have it; the OP is facing several different...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    I cannot find a job as a LPN in California..Very sad :(

    VivaLasViejas replied to Bala Shark's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    I've always had better success with actually going to facilities I was interested in working in, rather than calling them on the phone. It's very easy for a bored/frustrated/busy/overwhelmed...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    , All you needed to get into Nursing school was a application & and "average joe.."

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNsoon!'s topic in General Nursing

    You aren't kidding, Deb. There's about 76 million of us baby boomers who are going to need care as we grow old........we don't have a single nurse to
  17. VivaLasViejas

    How opposite are you and your mate?

    VivaLasViejas replied to wooosp's topic in General Nursing

    My husband is the maintenance person/housekeeper at the ALF where I work as director of health services. He's blue-collar; I'm white-collar. He's quiet and reserved; I don't have a shy bone in my...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Personal references - What do you say?

    VivaLasViejas replied to caroladybelle's topic in General Nursing

    Agree with the above advice. I think most people in the "helping professions" tend to attract dysfunctional individuals; it's part of what we do, and maybe a little of why we go into it in the first...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    This is a basic med pass question

    VivaLasViejas replied to blingbling's topic in General Nursing

    You also need clarification of these orders for any medication assistants you may have in your building. Where I come from, unlicensed caregivers may administer both scheduled and PRN medications in...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Good job gone bad-I'm FRIED (warning long post)

    VivaLasViejas replied to MsPiggy's topic in Psychiatric

    And I thought MY last job was horrible.............OMG. I have two words for anyone who works in such a toxic environment: one is GET, and the other is OUT. Do not put up with being abused,...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Toughest mammogram ever

    VivaLasViejas replied to lindy777's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Dear heart..........I'd be far more worried about you if you HADN'T had some strong feelings about all of this. Let's tally up all the ways this experience could have messed with you: your mother had...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Halloween and Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to Antikigirl's topic in General Nursing

    I work in assisted living, and my boss has OK'd costumes, so my dh (who works as the housekeeper/maintenance man) and I are going to dress up as pirates. He's got a pirate hat with a wig inside that...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Are you my waitress today?

    VivaLasViejas replied to adria37's topic in General Nursing

    I would avoid "shooting from the lip", and use such an occasion to educate the patient (and by extension, the general public) as to what nurses do, what it takes to become a nurse, and so on. As...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    THIS Is Why I Love Geriatrics

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Yes, we did, and we gave copies to Paul & Sylvia and their daughters, plus we have a framed copy on the fireplace mantel at the front of the building. Funny how things come back around: Last month...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Am I Wrong?

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    ........or isn't Ambien 5 mg., Sonata 10 mg, and Rozerem (a new sleep medication) just a bit much to give a 90-something-year-old patient every night at bedtime? Here's my concern. The patient in...