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

    Hating Nursing Currently

    VivaLasViejas replied to vanaly's topic in General Nursing

    Welcome to your first year of nursing! Almost every nurse you'll ever meet here on AN or in real life will tell you they absolutely HATED their first year. Crying before (and after) shifts? Check....
  2. VivaLasViejas

    What would you do in my situation?

    VivaLasViejas replied to tinybbynurse's topic in General Nursing

    You can't be sick and work with neonates. Get a doctor's note and let the chips fall where they may...it probably won't matter in the long
  3. VivaLasViejas

    10 Ways Nurse Leaders Can Make Work Enjoyable for Staff

    VivaLasViejas replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    I wish it were possible to Like this post 1,000 times. Thank
  4. VivaLasViejas

    A Nurses Duty to act

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mellissa81's topic in General Nursing

    Yeah, that's a new one on me. Of course, it doesn't apply to me because I pay a bundle for cable + Internet, but it's good to
  5. VivaLasViejas

    10 Ways Nurse Leaders Can Make Work Enjoyable for Staff

    VivaLasViejas replied to Melissa Mills's topic in General Nursing

    This. ^^ I hated team-building activities, not because I was shy or introverted (I'm not), but because they all seemed so silly. I'm with the PP, I wanted proper staffing, adequate amounts of supplies...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Wound Care for Nursing Home State Survey Question!

    VivaLasViejas replied to ShimmaShimma0304's topic in General Nursing

    Of course you know best practice, which is to wash your hands between multiple dressing changes. But using alcohol gel is OK, as long as you do a full hand scrub between
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Medical Gloves Survey

    VivaLasViejas replied to dpreece1's topic in General Nursing

    I always preferred the nitrile gloves, and not just because they come in pretty colors (although that's a plus). They fit well and are easier to put on than the other kinds. I could also feel for...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Mandatory Influenza Vaccine

    VivaLasViejas replied to AllisonMcTigue's topic in General Nursing

    The last time I didn't get a flu shot was 1992. I have asthma and it's vital that I get one every year. Not coincidentally, that was also the last time I got full-blown flu, and it was so nasty and...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Acute in patient psych gowns vs street clothes

    VivaLasViejas replied to sister zyprexa's topic in Psychiatric

    See, that's the thing. Being in a psych unit is unlike any other hospital experience. For one thing, you can't leave; they lock the doors. You have almost NO control over what happens to you, from...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Acute in patient psych gowns vs street clothes

    VivaLasViejas replied to sister zyprexa's topic in Psychiatric

    From a patient's point of view: I think it would be humiliating to have to wear hospital gowns in a psych unit. It's hard enough being locked up without being stripped of one of the last vestiges of...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Unlicensed personnel administering medications

    VivaLasViejas replied to boquiabierta's topic in General Nursing

    It's very common in LTC and assisted living/memory care to use unlicensed personnel for medication administration. To nobody's surprise, they cost much less than a nurse, but their training is usually...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    What's the most inappropriate thing you've done that you instantly regretted?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Rocknurse's topic in General Nursing

    I don't know what got into me, but I once went into a patient room to answer a call light, and in my best Ebonics I said "WhassUP?" as I rounded the curtain. The patient was
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Is it okay to be open about your mental health?

    VivaLasViejas replied to julsca's topic in General Nursing

    Not at all. It's a good question and it deserves honest answers, which have been given to you. I agree with previous posters who have advised you not to disclose your mental health condition where...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Pro Life Beliefs and Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tuzla99's topic in General Nursing

    I am very much pro-life and make no apologies for it. But in 17 years as a working nurse, even doing some time in OB-GYN, I never ran across this situation. It was easy because I never put myself in a...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    3 Misdemeanors

    VivaLasViejas replied to indianastudent's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    I think it's time you do an honest self-inventory to figure out why you keep falling back into behaviors that cause you to be charged with repeated drug offenses. Nothing will change until you do...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Just how bad was this? (insulin edition)

    VivaLasViejas replied to UsernameNotFound's topic in General Nursing

    Ain't happening where I come from. That's crazy! She could have squirted *anything* in that vial. Nope, nope,
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Benefits over passion?

    VivaLasViejas replied to KJCnango's topic in General Nursing

    Passion is nice, but it doesn't pay the mortgage. You just never know...you might find out you don't want to work in the OR after all once you've had a little time on the floor. And even if you do,...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Loss of all personal freedom.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Runnerlives's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you. It astounds me that some people think nurses with mental illness should be subjected to the same punitive measures as those who have drug/alcohol or diversion problems. From everything I've...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    allnurses' chat balloons

    VivaLasViejas replied to Davey Do's topic in General Nursing

    Davey, you crack me up...you really do!
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Loss of all personal freedom.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Runnerlives's topic in General Nursing

    I agree that a lot of employers stick their noses too far into our business. It shouldn't matter to them what we do in our spare time. But it does, and that's the system we work in, so it's best to...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Teen Mental Health: Problem Prevention

    VivaLasViejas replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    What's also a problem is even when mental health care is available, so many families can't afford it. They either have no insurance, or the insurance they do have has high deductibles and co-pays....
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Wearing scrubs home?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Lee_Ryan's topic in General Nursing

    When I was a working nurse, I wore my scrubs to and from the hospital/nursing home. I'd come home and go down the back stairs to the bottom floor of our house where our laundry room was, and peel off...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Patient care tech's install IV?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Highmaintenancebaby's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    When I worked as a CNA in a small city hospital, I was allowed to discontinue almost everything but central lines and PICCs. I could also empty drains and Hemovacs, change ostomy bags, check blood...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    FOMO & anxiety. Need advise.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Octobermyfav's topic in General Nursing

    I take six psychiatric medications, and probably will for the rest of my life. Am I addicted to them? No. But I am dependent on them; I cannot function properly unmedicated. I've tried dealing with my...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Death and Repossession

    VivaLasViejas replied to Eris Discordia BSN, RN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I have no words. I am so sorry for what you're going through.