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

    Whats your favorite part of nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Grobyc82's topic in General Nursing

    I loved placing IVs and Foleys. Nine times out of 10 I got them in on the first attempt, and most patients were grateful that I did it so quickly. But the thing I loved the most was getting to know my...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    What To Expect During State Survey

    VivaLasViejas replied to RockinNurse2018's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    As a former surveyor (for about five minutes back in 2014), I was told I was "too friendly" with the staff; I know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of a survey, and I wanted to put them...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    New Grad Psych vs. Med Surg

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursingstudent2018's topic in Psychiatric

    If psych is your passion, don't bother with M/S---go for it! So many nurses feel they have to get that magical 1-2 years in acute care before they venture into a specialty, and ordinarily that would...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Manual dexterity

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

    I used to have the same problem from time to time. I was usually very good at IVs and Foleys, and when I had a run of successes I was in what I called "The Zone". But there were also times when I was...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Why do you smoke?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Grobyc82's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I smoked two packs a day for 10 years. I didn't start until I was 23 (stupid...stupid...stupid), but I loved everything about smoking---handling the cigarette, lighting it, drawing in that first...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Pinning ceremony...with NO faculty??

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jdover37's topic in General Students

    I think it would be lovely if you put on the ceremony yourselves. At my son's, all of the people doing the pinning were nurses, whether parent, relative, friend, instructor, or whatever. Faculty did...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Fired Due to Not Being Able to Get to Work

    VivaLasViejas replied to Studentworker's topic in General Nursing

    Pardon me for asking, but why can't the OP borrow money from her parents for tires? I'm all for adult children being as self-sufficient as possible, and you bet none of my four were lounging on my...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Essential Oil Overkill

    VivaLasViejas replied to Kayauhs's topic in General Nursing

    I have a friend who sells essential oils and is fanatic about their supposed benefits. I happen to be wildly allergic to lavender and I have to stay away from her house because she's got it...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    From SNF to acute care, a plea for help.

    VivaLasViejas replied to ladyafterhours's topic in General Nursing

    I totally agree. When I first started at the hospital, I was not a new nurse but I was new to M/S nursing, and they gave me six weeks orientation plus classes. New grads got a full 90 days. I can't...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    OCNRN63

    VivaLasViejas replied to Kyrshamarks's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks for letting us know, Kyrshamarks. God rest
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Tech Change?

    VivaLasViejas replied to 4RealStudent's topic in General Nursing

    I think those vein finders are a miracle. I recently had surgery, and I'm notorious for being a hard stick. My nurse brought in the machine, which immediately located a plump vein, and she got the IV...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Now that they approved my reinstatement don't know if I want it

    VivaLasViejas replied to 5150RNKAT's topic in Retired Nurses

    What you should do depends on how badly you want to get back into nursing. I'm older than you but not by a whole lot, and I'm on SSDI for bipolar I; my three-year review has come up and naturally I'm...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Scope of Practice for professional nurses in Assisted Living

    VivaLasViejas replied to Malia BSN, RN's topic in General Nursing

    Believe or it not, it's the corporate poohbahs who dictate what the nurse may and may not do. The company's policies may very well prohibit even basic nursing tasks such as CPR (and that's a whole...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Scope of Practice for professional nurses in Assisted Living

    VivaLasViejas replied to Malia BSN, RN's topic in General Nursing

    In this day and age, ALFs provide nursing care, almost as much as you'd see in a nursing home. When I first started, most of the residents were pretty self-sufficient and needed only basic ADL...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Scope of Practice for professional nurses in Assisted Living

    VivaLasViejas replied to Malia BSN, RN's topic in General Nursing

    I was a DON in assisted living for years, and I can tell you that is unprofessional behavior. The scope of practice in ALF is wide, you have a lot of autonomy in this setting, and never is it OK to...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    What kind of lawyer can answer my questions?

    VivaLasViejas replied to 1blueheron's topic in General Nursing

    I disclosed my bipolar I diagnosis on my renewal application a few years ago because it actually has impaired my ability to practice. However, I've never gotten any pushback from the BON and I still...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Was I wrong?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Munch's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with the previous posters. You did everything exactly right and advocated for YOUR patient like nurses are supposed to. Don't let the other nurse undermine you, and don't take it personally...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    And we were having such a nice day, too...

    VivaLasViejas replied to audreysmagic's topic in General Nursing

    Management: From experience, I've learned that on the first really warm day of the year, the cases of "bottle flu" rise exponentially. It does the same thing on holidays and summer
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Put Your DA Skills to the Test!

    VivaLasViejas replied to bjwojcik's topic in General Nursing

    Is this a homework
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Will I get in trouble with the BON for receiving mental health care?

    VivaLasViejas replied to mj606's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I wasn't diagnosed until about six months before I lost my job. Of course, my work was erratic and management had noticed, but didn't say anything until I told them about the BP. Then they brought in...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Career in flames

    VivaLasViejas replied to TheMoonisMyLantern's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Just out of curiosity, are you actually taking meds? You mentioned "resenting" them, and feeling that way can lead to non-adherence to the regimen. Even if you're properly medicated, seeing a...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Why your avatar?

    VivaLasViejas replied to LikeTheDeadSea's topic in School

    My green ribbon is for mental health, specifically bipolar disorder awareness. It's the first avatar that I've used for a long time; I used to switch them up every few months. I suppose I'll change...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Work as a CNA after passing the NCLEX?

    VivaLasViejas replied to gypsierose's topic in General Nursing

    As long as you possess CNA certification, you can work as a CNA even though you have an RN license too. I wouldn't recommend doing it for too long however; be aggressive in your job search so that you...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Former drug addicts becoming nurses?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    I am a recovering alcoholic with 26 years' sobriety under my belt. At the time I first started looking into nursing school, I'd only been sober a couple of years and was worried that the board of...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Why all the drama with nursing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to dogmom2016's topic in General Nursing

    Crush---love the