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

    Nursing Medical Symbol: What is it about?

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursewithskills's topic in General Nursing

    I have a tattoo of the cadeuceus with "RN" on the sides. While tats are not for everyone, I think a necklace would be impractical. It probably wouldn't be allowed at clinical, as another poster said,...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    What is the expectation for a psych nurse?

    VivaLasViejas replied to delicious_eve's topic in Psychiatric

    Congratulations on your new job! I hope you will find it enjoyable. Now, I can only say this from a patient's point of view, but YES, a good psych nurse can make a difference in one's life. During my...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    What do you wear under your scrub pants in winter?

    VivaLasViejas replied to vspaniel's topic in General Nursing

    Tights.
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Panic Attacks During C-Section

    VivaLasViejas replied to Barbaraleev's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I freaked out during my last C-section, over 26 years ago. They had given me the spinal and when they tilted the head of the table down, the anesthesia went up to my shoulders and I couldn't feel...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Seasoned Nurses....I need advice!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Glycerine82's topic in General Nursing

    Your prioritizing diabetic care and meds is the right way to go. It will do no good to keep challenging this manager because she is not open to others' way of thinking and doing things, and nothing...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Can I wear long press on nails if I wear gloves during my whole shift?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cxrleen's topic in General Students

    No. Eww. Yuck. False nails are nothing but germ factories. I never let my staff wear any sort of fake nails when I was in management, although I did allow clear polish over short, natural nails. It...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Do all nurses make fatal mistakes?

    VivaLasViejas replied to justtryintonurse's topic in General Nursing

    I made a few med errors during my 20 years in nursing, but never even came close to killing anyone. Don't borrow trouble, most nurses go their whole careers without harming a
  8. VivaLasViejas

    What Are You Thankful For?

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

    I am thankful for the years I was a nurse. My career was cut short due to my mental health and body breaking down at the same time, but I've never regretted becoming an RN. I loved taking care of...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    I hate being a nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to Kmc12's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Welcome to your first year of nursing! Almost all of us feel the same way when we're new to the field, no matter where we work. I'd be more worried about you if you *didn't* feel nervous and scared....
  10. VivaLasViejas

    age 21

    VivaLasViejas replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    I just feel sorry for the young people who are already hooked. My grandson-in-law who is 19 really enjoys smoking/vaping and he is going to be in a world of hurt unless he can find someone to buy him...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    When Your LPNs & PCAs Take Over

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursingforlife24's topic in General Nursing

    Sheesh, generalize much? My youngest son is an LPN and works his hind end off in a skilled-nursing facility. The LPN program he attended was rigorous and challenging, and the standards were set very...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Is six months too early to transfer?

    VivaLasViejas replied to klb17's topic in General Nursing

    Hang in there and get your year in, if you possibly can. The first year of nursing is hell no matter where you're working, so the grass is not always greener on the other side. You may not enjoy the...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Facing my own judgments

    VivaLasViejas replied to JBMmom's topic in General Nursing

    Years ago, I was assigned a patient who was homeless after being in prison for burning down my church. He had pneumonia. Ironically, I was the only Catholic nurse on the floor that night, and I was...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    3 Ways to Assess Your Wellness Literacy

    VivaLasViejas replied to Carol Ebert's topic in General Nursing

    I loved the teaching aspect of nursing; unfortunately, when you're running the floors you don't get much of a chance to do it. However, I did get that chance in my role as a DON in assisted living....
  15. VivaLasViejas

    CNA with Bipolar Disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to kealohaa's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hello, kealohaa, and welcome to Allnurses! We're glad you're here. I can empathize with you because I have bipolar disorder too. Being a healthcare provider isn't easy for anyone, but it's more...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Code Blue

    VivaLasViejas replied to 2018nursewi's topic in General Nursing

    My most unforgettable code was a young father of two who had inherited a deadly heart condition that had killed his father and brother at young ages. I was admitting him and he looked great, just a...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Could I be let go because of my ADHD?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Holopugs's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    It was because of the diagnosis itself (bipolar I) and the fact that I'd been unstable enough to require medical leave per my psychiatrist. I didn't blame them for wanting someone, in this case a...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Could I be let go because of my ADHD?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Holopugs's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    That isn't necessarily so. I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I once made the mistake of disclosing my mental health diagnosis to my employer, and found myself out of work a few weeks later...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Will my disability stop me?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mariafam's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hello there, and welcome to Allnurses! We're glad you've joined us. A lot depends on the type and severity of your condition. The best person to advise you is your healthcare provider. Some people can...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Is it standard practice for a CNA training school to ask for your SSN

    VivaLasViejas replied to Whitney.'s topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Almost anything you do in healthcare, whether it's becoming a CNA or even being a patient yourself, is going to require disclosing your SSN. You may as well get used to it. BTW, welcome to Allnurses!...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse in drug rehab

    VivaLasViejas replied to KJRN3113's topic in General Nursing

    It sounds like you're getting your information from hearsay. Have you actually witnessed her taking patients' medication or treating her patients poorly? If you have, it's one thing, but if not you...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse in drug rehab

    VivaLasViejas replied to KJRN3113's topic in General Nursing

    No. She is in enough trouble on her own. Is there a particular reason why you would want to report
  23. VivaLasViejas

    The one thing nursing has taught me is...

    VivaLasViejas replied to TheObserver5's topic in General Nursing

    Nursing has taught me a lot of things, but I think the most important is that the word "assume" makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me". For example, if you assume a patient is what most people call a...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Not sure anymore

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

    Just about every nurse has things that gross them out. For me, it's dentures and feet. I used to gag quietly whenever I had to clean dentures that had several days' worth of food in them, but...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    It's okay, people, it's okay. (Re: Nursing Stress)

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

    I have read this post twice all the way through and cannot for the life of me grasp the point. At first I couldn't figure out what "A" meant (it became clear a few paragraphs later), then I couldn't...