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

    Took NCLEX today with 75 questions! What does that mean? I think I flunked.

    VivaLasViejas replied to starshinely's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    The NCLEX is designed to make you think you failed......I'd bet you passed with flying colors!! I know how scary it is when that computer shuts off at 75, but that usually means it's determined that...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Palliative Care Team

    VivaLasViejas replied to Celia M's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    I'm on a similar committee where I work, and one of the things you want to do at the outset is make sure all your committee members are on the same page as far as hospice is concerned. You want them...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    SAD: Just Wondering........

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    I guess God showed Danny who's smarter, huh? :chuckle That's a cute story, one you can tell on him and make him blush when he's older. You can tell him I tried that once too........didn't work for...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    SAD: Just Wondering........

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    I know what you mean about December 21........I too mark that day and tell myself "OK, this is the worst, it's going to start getting better now". Doesn't work, though, because there are sooooooooo...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    restarting prehospital IV's

    VivaLasViejas replied to JillR's topic in Emergency

    Me, too, in fact there have been a number of times when I've NOT changed them because the patient has few viable veins or has already been through a lot of trauma and doesn't really need to be poked...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Injections- still pull back?

    VivaLasViejas replied to angelbyte's topic in General Nursing

    In over 10 years of giving injections, I've never once aspirated blood, but I still map out my landmarks on each and every patient AND I pull back every single time (except, of course, for...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Sending residents to the ER without a doctor's order.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    This is where so many people, medical people included, forget that DNR does NOT mean Do Not Treat. When I worked LTC I sent many residents to the hospital without a doctor's order, although I always...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    SAD: Just Wondering........

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, wow, you guys are just GREAT!! :kiss Thanks so much for all the information and suggestions......there's a lot to try, and I'm grateful for the ideas. :) It's so funny......I told the boys...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Thinking About Moving to AZ Sometime.....Need Info

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Arizona Nursing

    OK, back on topic.......so what's the average wage in the Tucson area for a nurse with 8 years experience? I was looking at rental housing and finding some incredibly nice homes for about as much, or...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Your opinion on HOSPITALISTS.

    VivaLasViejas replied to estrogen's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I ADORE our hospitalists. All three of them are warm, wise, wonderful, and they listen to us nurses. They also save us a lot of time, because they're always around and they write out their own...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Thinking About Moving to AZ Sometime.....Need Info

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Arizona Nursing

    Aw, come on, they can't be any worse than Washington drivers.......my apologies to any WA nurses, it's just that the drivers are the dumbest on the face of the planet!! They come to Oregon and drive...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Thinking About Moving to AZ Sometime.....Need Info

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Arizona Nursing

    You gotta be kidding.......I don't know how water can taste much nastier than Albany's, which has more crap in it than you can shake a stick at and is probably at least partially responsible for my...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Knee Problems

    VivaLasViejas replied to UM Review RN's topic in General Nursing

    Oh, just you wait another 15 years.......you won't be singing such a happy tune then!
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Stress in Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to rmcgrog's topic in General Nursing

    Stress? WHAT stress?! :smiley_ab :argue: :lol_hitti Seriously, my main stressor is too much to do, too many patients to do it for, and too little time to do what I think is good care.
  15. VivaLasViejas

    New ABC show "Miracle Workers" to feature two real nurses: will one of them be you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Aw, shucks, Tweety :imbar I'm speechless.........for once :chuckle BTW Karen, thanks for the info! I'd never be cast in a million years, but it's fun to think
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Knee Problems

    VivaLasViejas replied to UM Review RN's topic in General Nursing

    I've had bad knees since my late 20s, and nursing certainly hasn't done them any favors. I'm looking at TKR, left knee first, within the next five years or less, especially if I don't lose some of...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Thinking About Moving to AZ Sometime.....Need Info

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Arizona Nursing

    Thanks, you guys. I haven't been to Arizona for many years, and what I remember of it was wonderful, although I'm sure all the old people from the frozen North (and soppy Northwest) are already there,...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    New ABC show "Miracle Workers" to feature two real nurses: will one of them be you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    You're not gonna believe this.......but I actually applied! Of course, they'll probably pick a couple of young, pretty nurses long before they'd take an overweight, middle-aged grandmother-to-be, but...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    I Am FURIOUS!!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to leslie :-D's topic in Psychiatric

    Leslie........I am so sorry........I can't even imagine the pain of what you're going through right now. I do know that it's a good sign that Tiff told you about what's going on at that facility. I...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    I have a question about humor etiquette

    VivaLasViejas replied to gentlemother's topic in General Nursing

    My perspective on humor in the healthcare business has always been this: If you don't laugh, you'll cry, and if you don't cry, you'll go insane. Neither of the latter two are attractive options, so...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Thinking About Moving to AZ Sometime.....Need Info

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Arizona Nursing

    Thanks! I'll definitely check that out........I've been to Phoenix in the summer, and while I'm not really crazy about the 110+ degree temps, it IS a dry heat, and there's always air-conditioning :)...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Choice: cesarean v.s. vaginal birth

    VivaLasViejas replied to jclumb's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Sure........but I wonder why anyone would CHOOSE a cesarean, with all the extra risks, pain, and longer recovery period. I've had 2 lady partsl births and 3 'sections', and if I'd had my druthers I'd...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Totally Freaked out by Autopsy

    VivaLasViejas replied to luvmypatients's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I'm sure the fact that you've recently lost family members had a lot to do with your revulsion toward the autopsy procedures you witnessed. You should be proud of yourself for your strength and...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Protocols for discharging patients who have sedation

    VivaLasViejas replied to chrisf1969's topic in Gastroenterology

    Undergoing a colonoscopy without sedation is something that I wouldn't ever want to try.......no thanks, give me plenty of Versed and Fentanyl, and I'll take a cab home if I have to! Our outpatient...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    How do you feel about paying for parking?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ICUUCME's topic in General Nursing

    I can't even imagine working at a facility big enough to require parking garages, paid or otherwise.......and I complain about having to park 'out in the south 40' at my hospital! :chuckle I do wish...