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

    What Is Your Most Gross, Yucky, Disgusting Nursing Horror Story?

    VivaLasViejas replied to yazisizit's topic in Nursing Humor

    OK, that ostomy bag post was too much........I think I'm gonna I'm not particularly squeamish, but between that and the earwax, I've pretty much lost my appetite this morning. :stone Come to think...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    What do you do if a patient strikes?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Emery's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Your teacher is wrong. Nurses can, and indeed must, defend themselves from harm........there is nothing in our code of ethics that says we have to just stand there and take a beating, or worse. There...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse, There's a Spider in My Throat

    VivaLasViejas replied to AngelSpirit's topic in Emergency

    EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW..........as a confirmed arachnophobe myself, I'd have been scarred for life. Gives me the shivers just thinking about
  4. VivaLasViejas

    admissions nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to pmshiftsup's topic in General Nursing

    I work on a 38-bed med/surg unit, and I can tell you there is NO WAY that a single nurse can handle all the admissions that come in on an average weekday, especially if you have her running back and...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Hell Week (Vent)

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    And it's not even a full moon yet......... I'm sooooooo glad it's Saturday!! This past week has literally been the week from Hell at work.......every single day we've been bombarded with admission...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Brown Recluse Spider Bite

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tashia's topic in Georgia Nursing

    I got bitten by one of those suckers back in the late '70s, and I still have the scar on top of my left foot to prove it. I had cellulitis and almost went into septicemia; fortunately I was young and...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Can you have sleep apnea and not be aware of it

    VivaLasViejas replied to warrior woman's topic in General Nursing

    I'm having a sleep study done next month to find out if I have it.......there are some s/sx that can clue you in to the fact that it may be an issue, such as daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    How many (fill in the blank)s does it take to change a light bulb?

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Nursing Humor

    Q: How many nurses does it take to change a light bulb? A: Only one, but it takes 45 minutes to document the procedure. Q: How many doctors does it take to change a light bulb? A: One.......he stands...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Anzac Day -2005-

    VivaLasViejas replied to Grace Oz's topic in International Nursing

    Thank you, Grace! I'll check that out.......meanwhile, Happy Anzac Day and have a Foster's for me.
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Anzac Day -2005-

    VivaLasViejas replied to Grace Oz's topic in International Nursing

    What a beautiful tribute, Grace........pardon my ignorance, but is Anzac Day like Veteran's Day here in the States? Please educate me!
  11. VivaLasViejas

    nursing cover letter with lack of references and termination

    VivaLasViejas replied to kocoman's topic in International Nursing

    I agree with the others...........I've been in positions where I hired and fired people, and to be honest I'd have put your cover letter in the circular file, along with any application materials....
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Depends (diapers) at night?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Town & Country's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I hear you, catlady loud and clear! I remember interviewing at one nursing home where I learned that briefs were used on ALL residents, day and night.....whether they were continent or not. I spoke...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Hell Week (Vent)

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Right back at ya, Theresa!! Good to see you on the boards again!! :icon_hug: I must say, I can't complain too much about my workplace........I have an excellent manager who treats us like gold, and...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Depends (diapers) at night?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Town & Country's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    When I was a care manager in LTC, I used to insist on leaving my residents OUT of Depends at night. I'd seen way too many skin issues crop up when peoples' hineys were encased in plastic---which all...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Hell Week (Vent)

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    That level is totally unsafe, IMO........I know I run my butt off with 4-5 really sick, dependent patients, so I can't imagine taking a patient load two or three times that. It's one thing when people...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Good Morning Sunday, April 24, 2005

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    You mean to tell me nobody's started the Good Morning thread yet?? My gosh, it's almost 11PM here........either you all are out having fun, or I need to get a life, or both!! :chuckle Leslie, I...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Good Morning Sunday, April 24, 2005

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Oops :uhoh21: Just goes to show you how long it's been since I started the GM
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Hell Week (Vent)

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Deb.......that has to be one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. :kiss I'm not really as wonderful as you make me out to be, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made my day,...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Hell Week (Vent)

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks, folks...........I swear, weeks like this one are almost enough to make me take up drinking again, but never fear, I'm sticking to Diet Coke---at least until I get my kidney stones
  20. VivaLasViejas

    champagne enema

    VivaLasViejas replied to Rhee's topic in General Students

    All this talk reminds me of an old joke I heard when I was about 18: There was this overweight man who had tried every diet on the market, only to gain the weight back every time. Finally, in...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Hell Week (Vent)

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Me, too! Of course, I'm only working two days next week due to my scheduled kidney-stone surgery on Wednesday.......I need a vacation to be sure, but recuperating at home with stents in both ureters...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Hell Week (Vent)

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Leslie, you are a treasure..........thank you for putting things into perspective.
  23. VivaLasViejas

    What's the StraightDope on recapping needles?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Roland's topic in General Nursing

    I do it because I don't want to accidentally inject myself with any of the medication.........especially insulin and narcotics.
  24. VivaLasViejas

    G-tube dressing change

    VivaLasViejas replied to MrsWeb's topic in Home Health

    Hmmmmmmm..........I still use the 4X4 split drain sponges for G/T dressings, and indeed have rarely seen anything else used. Some people leave G/Ts entirely open to air, which is fine if the pt....
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Alcoholic Mother--Need Professional Advice

    VivaLasViejas replied to Siouxz2's topic in General Nursing

    The very first thing you MUST do is to absolve yourself, RIGHT NOW, of any responsibility for your mother's ill health. She is an adult who has evidently never adjusted to widowhood, she is obviously...