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

    FOMO & anxiety. Need advise.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Octobermyfav's topic in General Nursing

    Most U.S. counties have public health clinics, many of which offer mental health services on a sliding-scale fee basis. If you are low-income enough you might qualify for Medicaid, which would pay for...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    I know it's hard. But is it really that hard?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Stillthinkin's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    This. ^^ And to be honest, getting good grades and passing the NCLEX aren't all that hard...it's being able to critically think and apply what you've learned to the next situation, and the next, and...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    I have a misdemeanor now

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tiffani3116's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    That makes more sense. Thank you for clearing that up. I still think you'll be all right...just be honest when you renew and be prepared to explain all of it to the
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Microbiology and Chemistry at same time

    VivaLasViejas replied to cysmith87's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    I took them both at the same time. It worked, although I didn't do as well in chemistry as I'd hoped. I was also working part-time and raising a family. So it's definitely
  5. VivaLasViejas

    May Is Mental Health Month

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    Today, May 1st, marks the beginning of Mental Health Month. Brain disorders have been in the news quite a lot lately, so this is a particularly good time to talk about mental health and those who are...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    I have a misdemeanor now

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tiffani3116's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Wow, they must be really strict in California. I live in Oregon and hospitals offer Super Sitter classes for kids 11 and up. Not that I think most 11-year-olds are mature enough to babysit, but I'm...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    May Is Mental Health Month

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    Great thoughts, Jen, and thank you for your post. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard well-meaning people say that if a mentally ill person would just exercise, or eat healthy, or take...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing home cutting corners (ex. understaffing) leads to patient's death

    VivaLasViejas replied to CaffeinePOQ4HPRN's topic in General Nursing

    When I was a surveyor, one place we entered had an entire section of rooms which had no call lights. The reason? "Those residents never use them." (!) That was an IJ tag, and by the end of the day...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    May Is Mental Health Month

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in General Nursing

    I hear you! Some of the most judgmental people I've ever met were in healthcare. I'll never forget going to an urgent care facility once to have a broken toe looked at, and it never occurred to me...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Favorite scrubs??

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

    I loved my Grey's Anatomy scrubs. They were expensive but so worth it. It almost broke my heart to give them away after my career was over. Now I wish I'd kept them for lounging, they were that...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    If you changed your username, what would you go with?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseCard's topic in Nursing Humor

    I'm BipolaRNurse on a mental-health board. I was so tickled with myself for the play on words when I came up with that one.
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Do/did your children suffer.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to klcrn1987's topic in Nursing Humor

    I was rarely impressed with my kids' bumps, bruises, scrapes etc. Fortunately, they learned early on that it was going to take a lot more than a 99-degree temp to get out of chores or school. One day...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Background check

    VivaLasViejas replied to Tipbaby12's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Boards of nursing tend to frown upon prospective applicants who have committed crimes against persons, especially violent crimes. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if your state board says No, at least...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Is it all over?

    VivaLasViejas replied to heartguy's topic in General Nursing

    Education is never wasted. If you have the chance to get a free master's degree, go for it, even if you're not sure how you'd use it. If someone handed me an opportunity like that, I'd do it just for...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Help! Thinking about changing field and from 12's to 8's

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

    That's much better---thank you. For what it's worth, I never adjusted to 12-hour days (or nights). Eight-hour shifts were all I could handle, and I only worked four days a week. Do you think you could...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Exposure to Second Hand Smoking

    VivaLasViejas replied to doublet's topic in General Nursing

    Definitely get yourself checked for asthma. It doesn't always come on in childhood...I wasn't diagnosed until my 30s. (And it was AFTER I quit smoking, which really frosted my cookies.) You may just...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    How did you get the big pay raise?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nurse3242's topic in General Nursing

    I moved around quite a bit during my career, and with only one exception, each job paid me more than the previous one. I took a pay cut to work for the state back in 2014, but that was at the very end...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Can night shift cause missed periods

    VivaLasViejas replied to Floatnurse137's topic in General Nursing

    My periods started getting wonky when I began working nights. But I was also in my late 30s and my hormones were already out of whack, so whether it was that or night shift work, I'll never know. I...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Should I accept the job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Dani_Mila's topic in General Nursing

    I used to be responsible for 38 patients on a long-term care unit (evening shift), so I know it can be done even though I ran for eight hours straight and hardly even had time for a 15-minute lunch....
  20. VivaLasViejas

    The ANA is worthless, looks down on floor nurses, don't join!

    VivaLasViejas replied to DannyBoy8's topic in General Nursing

    I have never had any use for the ANA. They tend to look down on ADNs, and they support all kinds of political causes I oppose. Now they're standing *against* mandated staffing ratios? What is WRONG...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    I hate the politics in nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to cwill2015's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Whatever you do, don't move to the PNW. It's expensive as hell to live here and the weather is lousy for nine months out of the year. Of course, the weather in flyover country isn't so hot either, but...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Had to work as CNA

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sol95's topic in General Nursing

    As long as I was getting RN wages, I worked wherever they put me. Easy peasy. The only time I ever had an issue with it was when I gave notice at this one nursing home, and the administrator made me...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Crap! Am I a crusty old bat nurse?? Carrying pens...

    VivaLasViejas replied to klone's topic in General Nursing

    My son the LPN is 27 and is even more possessive of his pens than I am! He always has half a dozen falling out of his scrub pants and shirt pockets. He steadfastly refuses to loan them out and one of...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Marijuana

    VivaLasViejas replied to JadaM96's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Ideally, the THC should be out of their system already. But the best bet for a nurse is NEVER to touch marijuana in any form, as it is not compatible with the vast majority of nursing jobs. Don't even...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Leaving after death

    VivaLasViejas replied to Spinkerton82's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Please accept my condolences on the loss of your beloved grandmother. I can't imagine coming back to work in a facility where my loved one died. It must be very difficult for you. However, early...