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

    Choose your own adventure: Come upon a person cutting

    VivaLasViejas replied to puravidaLV's topic in Psychiatric

    When I was in the hospital recently, a male patient was discovered hacking away at his wrists with the end of a toothbrush. A toothbrush! It's amazing what people can use as weapons when they are...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    short term memory issues

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    No one can tell you whether or not to become a nurse. Sometimes if we push through the anxiety and stress, we come out the other side much better off for the experience. But sometimes it takes the...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Charting in patient rooms

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

    From a patient's perspective.....I don't like it when the nurse is standing in my room documenting our encounter. It makes me a little self-conscious and I don't share as much as I probably should....
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Whats the normal intake and output for a 5 wk old?

    VivaLasViejas replied to lnxyourxeyez's topic in Pediatric

    Is this a homework
  5. VivaLasViejas

    short term memory issues

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Esme12 is one of the moderators here; she has examples of brain sheets that have been helpful to many members. :) As the saying goes, there are two kinds of nurses: those who make mistakes, and those...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Want to return to work with new skill

    VivaLasViejas replied to CWR1975's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    My story of dealing with mental illness in the workplace is not a happy one, so I won't go into detail. It's up to each person as to how to handle it when the subject comes up.....which it will....
  7. VivaLasViejas

    short term memory issues

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I feel your pain. I have bipolar 1 and am on five different medications, two of which are anti-psychotics, and they have memory problems as a side effect. So between the disorder and the meds used to...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Your patients thoughts on YOU

    VivaLasViejas replied to iscreambiebah's topic in Psychiatric

    I was inpatient recently and had great nurses throughout my stay. One taught me some meditation and breathing techniques; several others sat with me and talked as if I were their only patient. They...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Best Tennis Shoes

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

    I wore New Balance running shoes when I worked the floor. The brand fits me like it was made for me, and they have a wide variety of styles and colors. They're also light, which is great when you're...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Can an employer ask?

    VivaLasViejas replied to UFEDRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Wow, that is really invasive! Family history has nothing to do with the job---that is absolutely ridiculous. And remember, you don't give up your rights under HIPAA when you become a healthcare...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Would Seroquel show up on a drug test?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OswinOswald's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Most UDS don't test for the presence of drugs like Seroquel. They test for benzos, salicylates, THC, opiates and the like, but anti-psychotics won't show up because that's not what they're looking...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Thank you

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Psychiatric

    This is a shout-out to psychiatric nurses everywhere. I recently spent a week in a psych unit where I had wonderful nurses. I took advantage of all the therapies, but it was the 1:1 with the nurses...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Keeping License Active?

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    I appreciate your perspective. I'll be 56 in a couple of months and have actually filed for disability, so I don't see myself returning to clinical nursing, ever. I'd do chart reviews for insurance...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing student and anxiety

    VivaLasViejas replied to Skitter's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    As the saying goes, "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you're right." I understand your ambivalence about starting the nursing program when your anxiety is so poorly controlled, and...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Dating a former patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to thepsychtech's topic in Psychiatric

    I was recently on the business end of a psychiatric hospitalization, and from a patient's perspective I find it terribly unethical for a staff member to contact a former patient. Like others have...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Help! So Depressed...

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

    Although we cannot offer medical advice, your stress level sounds like it's climbing the charts and you really should consider seeing a mental health provider. I know you don't want to take...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Feeling Guilty with Patient Outcomes

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursegirl5592's topic in Health, Stress Management

    There are going to be times like that throughout your career. And it doesn't mean that you missed something, or that the outcome would have been different if this or that had happened (or hadn't...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Staffing on the inpatient adolescent unit

    VivaLasViejas replied to PeacockMaiden's topic in Psychiatric

    I don't know about adolescent units, but recently I was inpatient in an adult facility and there were 3 nurses for 11 patients. It was great---there was lots of 1:1 time with them, and they led some...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Thank you

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Psychiatric

    That was made abundantly clear to me during my stay---I HAVE to take care of myself first. And I have to pace myself.....to remember that I've just been through a severe episode of illness and need to...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Psych Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to KANDIGIRL's topic in Psychiatric

    Psych nurses are some of the most awesome nurses there are! I was inpatient recently and every one of my nurses was fantastic. The 1:1 time with them was invaluable, and I'll never forget the one who...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Disabled, but not unable: the rebirth of a nurse!

    VivaLasViejas replied to chiefaics's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    What an incredible post! Your words made me feel that I too still have the potential to do great things, even though I'm disabled by mental illness and can't work right now. Maybe I can find...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    To lock or not to lock the rooms

    VivaLasViejas replied to natalissa's topic in Psychiatric

    I just got home after a week's stay in a psychiatric facility, and must say that I would've been extremely upset if I couldn't have access to my room. The first day I got there, I was too depressed to...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Things I wish I could tell my patients

    VivaLasViejas replied to vintagemother's topic in Psychiatric

    I just got home after a week in a psych unit, and I'll never forget the nurse who told me that she fights depression too. She didn't elaborate on her meds or therapy (if indeed she was doing any of...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Bipolar with First Job and Having Difficulties

    VivaLasViejas replied to MMC.RN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Whatever you do, do NOT disclose your illness to your employer if you can avoid it. It will paint a huge target on your back and they will likely find a way to get rid of you. It happened to me last...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Did I shoot myself in the foot by disclosing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ceebeeaitch's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Keep us posted as to how things go, OK? I'm interested in how you fare; I'm bipolar 1 with rapid cycling and am having to disclose it to my state BON with my license renewal because it's had an impact...