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

    Question about Morning Sickness...

    VivaLasViejas replied to KeniRN's topic in Ob/Gyn

    My 22 YO daughter is almost 3 months' pregnant now, and she just stopped throwing up. It started practically at the moment of conception, and it wasn't morning sickness, it was all-day sickness. Poor...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Can my arm be infected?

    VivaLasViejas replied to z's playa's topic in General Nursing

    I'm glad you got it checked out, z!! Good for you........sounds like you've got a pretty nasty phlebitis there, but with antibiotics and pain meds you should be OK soon. I was worried when you...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    admission assessment of pedi patients

    VivaLasViejas replied to darla chick's topic in Pediatric

    We don't generally perform GU assessments on any peds patient, unless of course he or she is an infant or there is a specific complaint related to the area itself, and I don't mean just UTI or...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Can my arm be infected?

    VivaLasViejas replied to z's playa's topic in General Nursing

    Sorry........phlebitis is the inflammation of a vein. It's usually caused by some sort of mechanical trauma, e.g. IV infiltration (fluids going into the surrounding tissue rather than the vein...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Can my arm be infected?

    VivaLasViejas replied to z's playa's topic in General Nursing

    Sounds like a phlebitis has developed.........You need to see your doctor or go to your local immediate-care center ASAP for appropriate follow-up, as this is NOT resolving on its own. Get going! Best...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    What do you think is a fair salary for nurses?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sweetpea00's topic in General Nursing

    I've always felt I do pretty well financially for someone with a two-year degree, although I certainly wouldn't mind making more! :chuckle Of course, I would make more if I lived near a large city...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    More Things I Have Learned Over The Years

    VivaLasViejas replied to FranEMTnurse's topic in Nursing Humor

    I love these, Fran!!
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Do you clean B/P cuffs between pts???

    VivaLasViejas replied to lee1's topic in General Nursing

    We switched to disposable cuffs a couple of years ago. These are wonderful---they come in every size, each pt. has his/her own, and we just toss 'em in the trashcan after discharge. I would imagine...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Do your CNA's call in sick every weekend?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Blackcat99's topic in General Nursing

    When I worked in LTC, weekend call-ins were routine. We called it the "bottle
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Finish the Sentence: "Doctors practice, Nurses ____________?

    VivaLasViejas replied to allamericangirl's topic in General Nursing

    Doctors practice. Nurses get it right the FIRST time. Hey jnette---where'd you get the cool avatar?? I love
  11. VivaLasViejas

    My Feet!! Oh Bad Feet!

    VivaLasViejas replied to allamericangirl's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    I have foot problems too.......too many years of carrying far too many pounds and having sensitive feet in the first place, I had issues even before I started nursing. I've since developed plantar...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone hate their first job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jayla's topic in General Nursing

    My very first nursing job drove me to the brink of insanity within three short months. I was a charge nurse in a small LTC where the administrator would grab me as I was chasing down wandering...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    aweful as a CNA, what else can I do?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Purple Princess's topic in Nursing Career

    Have you thought about working as a patient care tech/CNA in a hospital? I did this back when I was in nursing school, and it was a wonderful experience. The work is much less physically demanding...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    They can put a man on the moon. Why Can't They....

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

    And while we're on the subject....... Why can't they invent: 1) CPM machines that are simple to use and can be put back together by someone who doesn't have a degree in engineering? 2) Beds that...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    no abduction pillow w/ THR

    VivaLasViejas replied to mommynmaddie's topic in Orthopedic

    I haven't seen an abduction pillow used in 2-3 years. Our surgeons stopped ordering them a while back---I don't really know the reason why they're no longer used, but we haven't had any increase in...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    They can put a man on the moon. Why Can't They....

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

    I'd bet my next month's wages that more people would get screened for colon cancer if someone were to invent a less invasive (and unpleasant) way to examine the bowel!! This is the one test I have NOT...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    gero-psych...nothing but a nightmare!

    VivaLasViejas replied to MisPlacedTexan's topic in Psychiatric

    I think ANYONE who works in any kind of psych unit must be an angel of some sort..........I know I sure as heck couldn't do it! I've worked enough LTC and acute care to know I'd rather deal with the...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Sometimes

    VivaLasViejas replied to FranEMTnurse's topic in Nursing Humor

    Oh, Fran, you got me on that one!!
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Epidurals: to Dose, or Not to Dose?

    VivaLasViejas replied to 4Blessings's topic in Ob/Gyn

    This is an interesting thread..........On all three of the units I work on (M/S, OB-GYN and ICU), RN's are allowed to give boluses through an epidural pump, as well as adjust the dose up or down...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    I hate those nursing staffers!

    VivaLasViejas replied to PHTLS's topic in General Nursing

    I'm surprised that your employer is making you float like this when you're new......I'm a float too, but I'm experienced and I've worked at my hospital for several years. Not only that, I'm one of the...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Ultrascopes?

    VivaLasViejas replied to manna's topic in General Students

    I love my Ultrascope!! I've had it for about 5 years now, and I can hear so much better with it than I could with the $250 Littman I bought myself when I graduated from nursing school in '97. Mine is...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone else hate "winter nursing"

    VivaLasViejas replied to IloveSnoopy's topic in General Nursing

    Where I work, we experience a phenomenon every year that I call "Half Off on All Admissions For Addicts".......seems like every doper and alcoholic in the county comes in for detox right after the...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Dvt

    VivaLasViejas replied to PHTLS's topic in General Nursing

    i think bedrest orders have pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur at our facility because it's basically unenforceable. we caution patients not to bear weight on the affected extremity, and they...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Dvt

    VivaLasViejas replied to PHTLS's topic in General Nursing

    We used to keep pt's with DVT on strict bedrest until PTT's had been within therapeutic levels for 24 hours. Nowadays, we just have the pt. keep the affected limb elevated as much as possible, because...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Who is tired of the abuse from lg Corp politics?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Rnltc's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I feel the same way, in fact, it's why I left LTC for good a couple of years ago (and will never go back as long as I have any control whatsoever over where I work). The 'care' went down the tubes...