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

    Condom snorting

    VivaLasViejas replied to Kitiger's topic in General Nursing

    Last year it was Tide Pods, now it's condom-snorting. I don't even want to ask if people get more stupid than this...we might find
  2. VivaLasViejas

    mental illness affected by night shift

    VivaLasViejas replied to kristine24's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    This is a tough one. Bipolar disorder makes working nights all but impossible for most of us, unless we keep to a nighttime schedule all the time in order to maintain a stable routine and medication...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Doctors Say the Darnedest Things

    VivaLasViejas replied to allnurses's topic in General Nursing

    When my youngest son was a baby, he got RSV and had to be admitted to the hospital. As he was a roly-poly little thing, he was a hard stick and nurse after nurse tried to get an IV in. Finally they...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Any good books/literature on how to deal with psych pts on a medical floor?

    VivaLasViejas replied to tbbtpeach's topic in Psychiatric

    I wish I were able to help with references for your question, but I've been out of practice for a few years and am woefully out of date. But I can give you a piece of advice which will serve you well...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    100+ attempted IV starts, 3 successes

    VivaLasViejas replied to crx971's topic in General Nursing

    It took me six years to get IVs down. It was so frustrating! But when I finally got it, I got it good and went on to become an excellent IV starter. Still, there were times when I wasn't in what I...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses Smoking: Compassion Instead of Judgement

    VivaLasViejas replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    I carry an albuterol inhaler with me in my purse everywhere I go. I developed asthma AFTER I quit smoking (oh the irony!), and cigarette smoke is one of my major triggers. Even now, I can hardly stand...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    What would you be in another life?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseYoshi's topic in General Nursing

    If I were independently wealthy, with my nursing background, I would build a nursing facility that's filled with all the amenities of home, like the freedom to stroll around the grounds, keep pets,...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses Smoking: Compassion Instead of Judgement

    VivaLasViejas replied to jeastridge's topic in General Nursing

    I tried quitting four times, and I only lasted a few weeks before going back to the evil weed. I was young at the time, but I was sick with breathing problems so often that more than one doctor told...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    theft charges and nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to heidi30's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    There is a forum here on Allnurses that deals with nursing and criminal history. You'll probably get more advice from talking to people there. A lot depends on how long ago the thefts occurred, as...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Is A Vampire Draining Your Energy?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Carol Ebert's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I am an empath who has a close relative that is an energy vampire. I love her dearly but it's become clear to me that it's much safer for me to love her from a distance. She keeps trying to drag me...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Striking image of an 8 yo Hands

    VivaLasViejas replied to tining's topic in School

    Eww. I think that picture should be printed and posted in every restroom in the
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Why do you visit allnurses.com?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in Nursing Humor

    I've been with AN for over 15 years and keep coming back for various reasons, even though I've been retired for a few years. It helps me stay in touch with current practice, and I enjoy learning new...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Has anyone else had a nurse manager swear during an interview?

    VivaLasViejas replied to AnnieOaklyRN's topic in General Nursing

    I wouldn't have been uncomfortable with the swearing, although I myself don't cuss in any sort of interview situation no matter which side of the desk I'm sitting on. I do have something of a potty...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Test Results

    VivaLasViejas replied to TexNurse777's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Isn't that in the amphetamine category? If so, it probably will show up in a UDS and I wouldn't take it if I were you. Nothing but
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Rolling out bedside report

    VivaLasViejas replied to magordon's topic in General Nursing

    I think someone's been drinking too much of management's
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Liar, liar pants on fire!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Wuzzie's topic in General Nursing

    Her poltical party matters not. Politicians are all a bunch of damn
  17. VivaLasViejas

    How to make more money as a LVN

    VivaLasViejas replied to phoenix78852's topic in General Nursing

    My son is an LPN making almost $40 an hour as an agency nurse. We're in
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Accepting verbal orders from another nurse?

    VivaLasViejas replied to amberrenae, RN's topic in General Nursing

    You did exactly the right thing. One should never give a med---especially a narcotic, and especially if it's not her/his patient---without seeing the order in the patient's MAR. I wouldn't have given...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Dementia and driving??

    VivaLasViejas replied to Thanksforthedonuts's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I have had to report a resident to the DMV, over his and the family's objections. It didn't make me very popular, but it was necessary to protect him and the other people on the road. Sometimes you...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    In Defense of the LTC Nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to Oswin's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Great post! I worked in LTC and assisted living for much of my career, and I agree with everything you've said. I also worked in the hospital for several years and didn't find it any "easier" than...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    11 Things Your Nurse Thinks (But Will Never Tell You)

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    1) If you yell "HELP!" one. more. time. without a really, really, REALLY good reason for it, I am going to come down there, shut the door, and give you a good dose of pillow therapy. 2) Sure, go ahead...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    OMG JACHO IS HERE!

    VivaLasViejas replied to hppygr8ful's topic in General Nursing

    Years ago when TJC came through my hospital, I was asked by the powers that be to demonstrate crash-cart checks for them. There they were, clipboards in hand, as I grabbed the checklist off the back...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Sometimes, it just Stinks

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in General Nursing

    Oooo, I forgot about gangrene...ugh. That's almost as bad as GI bleed for me. Funny how you can remember these smells years after your career is over...it's like they leave a permanent odor in your...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    A little good news

    VivaLasViejas replied to mom35's topic in Nurses Recovery

    This is a very good thing! Nurses with mental health diagnoses shouldn't be forced to endure the humiliation of these so-called "peeer assistance" programs as if they'd done something wrong. I'm glad...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Sometimes, it just Stinks

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in General Nursing

    Yeah, I used to use some Vick's ointment under my nose to help cope with stench. Mouth breathing didn't work...all I did was taste it instead of merely smelling it. That's one of the things I...