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

    Nurse transition

    VivaLasViejas replied to opi555's topic in General Nursing

    I too moved on to acute care after a couple of years in SNF/LTC. Of course this was 20 years ago, but I think it can still be
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Limited Orientation; High Ratio; How to Survive?

    VivaLasViejas replied to River&MountainRN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I have three words of advice for you: RUN LIKE HELL. Seriously. That is
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Student loans killing me!! stressed!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nurselyfe92's topic in General Nursing

    My situation with student loans is a Greek tragedy. I'm still paying on mine from over 20 years ago. Why? Because I kept goofing off. I spent money on everything but my obligations. Ran up credit card...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Prefer being up all night even when not working?

    VivaLasViejas replied to nervousnurse's topic in General Nursing

    I've never been a morning person. Ever. I do best when I sleep from around 0200-1000. I worked the 3-11 shift for years, which was perfect for my circadian rhythm but not so hot for family life. I...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Follow up to "new grad per diem offer - am I being ripped off??"

    VivaLasViejas replied to meganec17's topic in General Nursing

    Interesting how they suddenly "found" a full-time position for you. Honestly, if you have the luxury of not being hurried to find a job, you probably should hold off and pursue other avenues. Like...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Newish nurse (55) needs career advice.

    VivaLasViejas replied to pedsnurseIJAG's topic in General Nursing

    I was going to suggest something like that but meanmaryjean beat me to it. It's a good one. I hate to say this, but ageism is alive and well in nursing in the 21st Century. Finding a job after 50 is...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Help me pick a surgery to observe!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sbhayes09's topic in General Students

    I think trauma and neuro would be fascinating. When I was a student I observed two surgeries, a lap chole and a hand surgery. Didn't get to see much of anything because it was feared that a student...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Is nursing theory actually used by working nurses?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BCRNA's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    It's been so long since nursing school that I don't even remember which nursing theory we learned. That's how much I've used it during my career. I'm sure it's more heavily emphasized in BSN and MSN...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Is Allnurses now controlled ?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Guest05/31/18's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I've written similar stuff when I was manic. Don't judge.
  10. VivaLasViejas

    School Shootings

    VivaLasViejas replied to OldDude's topic in General Nursing

    This thread has indeed strayed somewhat from the original topic, but it's had over 200 responses and remained respectful of various viewpoints. I for one am really pleased to see that it hasn't...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Loss of a patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to SMS1980's topic in General Nursing

    The first patient death is always the hardest, and we never forget it. Some deaths bother us more than others, but we have to carry on because there are more patients to take care of and it's our job...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    What's the nicest compliment you've gotten as a nurse?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseNinja1990's topic in General Nursing

    When I was a new nurse, I took care of a late-middle-aged patient over the course of several days. In so doing, I got to know her pretty well, and we exchanged more than airy pleasantries. During her...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    New grad per diem job offer - am I being ripped off?

    VivaLasViejas replied to meganec17's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Nope, nope, nope. Keep
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Did any body else suffer a mental break down during school?

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

    You would be well advised to seek advice from your primary care provider. Your symptoms may or may not be due to an illness of some sort, but that's why we pay doctors. I do know that nursing school...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    School Shootings

    VivaLasViejas replied to OldDude's topic in General Nursing

    Wow...judgmental much? I have no
  16. VivaLasViejas

    What about being a nurse and having a problem with speech?

    VivaLasViejas replied to phlox's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    duplicate
  17. VivaLasViejas

    What about being a nurse and having a problem with speech?

    VivaLasViejas replied to phlox's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    You've got to be
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone had an experience like this??!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Dani_Mila's topic in General Nursing

    Chewie, I got a bad feeling about this. If I were you, I'd keep
  19. VivaLasViejas

    CNA TO RN

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseMc2020's topic in General Students

    I was able to obtain CNA certification by passing the first quarter of my nursing program. I worked as an aide in the hospital and learned an amazing amount of things while I was there, things that...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    School Shootings

    VivaLasViejas replied to OldDude's topic in General Nursing

    I've never thought comparing our country to others was particularly useful. Like someone else said, it's like comparing apples and oranges. Our culture and social norms are very different from other...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing Doubts: What To Do When Bedside Nursing Isn't For You?

    VivaLasViejas replied to music.love's topic in General Nursing

    Meanmaryjean nailed it. I used to job-hop a lot too, and it wasn't until the end of my career that I found my niche in assisted living. I stuck with that one until I was forced to retire due to a...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    CNAs sleeping on the job... What can I do as a new nurse?

    VivaLasViejas replied to jessica0rae's topic in First Year After Licensure

    People can forgive anything but someone who rises from the ranks. The CNAs are probably testing you along with just being lazy. I remember going to work in the same hospital I'd been an aide in, and...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    School Shootings

    VivaLasViejas replied to OldDude's topic in General Nursing

    THANK YOU. I get so tired of hearing these incidents being blamed on mental illness and those who suffer from it. Some shooters do have psychiatric diagnoses, but I believe there is such a thing as...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Communication issues in the workplace

    VivaLasViejas replied to Wiggly Litchi's topic in General Nursing

    You remind me quite a bit of me, especially when I was young. I was that kid who was about 15 degrees off "cool" and never could figure out just what it was about me that made some people look at me...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    breatlizer verses urine drug testing

    VivaLasViejas replied to dklasinski's topic in General Nursing

    Welcome to Allnurses! To answer your question, I'd need a few more specifics. Was the UDS for a new job, a random drug test, or are you in a monitoring program where you are tested at intervals? For...