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

    Ethical issue regarding antipsychotic

    VivaLasViejas replied to ksusn's topic in General Nursing

    I freaked out the first time I was put on an AP. I said the same thing ("but I'm not psychotic, I'm just a little manic") and I was very reluctant to start the prescription. Now I'm on two of them,...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    My First Mammogram - A Comedy

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sarah Matacale's topic in General Nursing

    I wish I could Like this article more than once. You took a serious subject and made it funny while encouraging women to get their yearly mammogram. I'm about five years overdue myself. I'd better get...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Compression Socks..... No Longer Just for Grandma.

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in General Nursing

    Compression socks were all that got me through my last six months or so of floor nursing. I also wear them when I fly, although my PCP has recommended I wear them all the time due to minor edema in my...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    A Change of Heart

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursemike's topic in General Nursing

    I can't Like this post enough. Great story, and I'm so glad you made
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Those Overly Exaggerating Nursing Stories

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cvepo's topic in General Nursing

    I love it...Harlequin romance novels come to Allnurses.
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Falls safety

    VivaLasViejas replied to amoLucia's topic in General Nursing

    I've fallen five times in the past 15 months, once in church on Christmas Day. I've always had people around to help me up, but I wonder if I should consider getting one of those systems. I take...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    What makes a good DON

    VivaLasViejas replied to imjstme's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I think I was a decent one. For one thing, I never asked staff to do anything I wouldn't do, and for another I went to bat for them when they deserved better pay and recognition for a job well done. I...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Assisted Living med aides

    VivaLasViejas replied to KimberRN123's topic in Long Term Acute Care

    ALF is a lot tougher than one would think. It used to be that only people with minor ADL needs were admitted; now they're as apt to be nursing home candidates with dementia, two-person transfers,...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    What is your Nursing Super Power?

    VivaLasViejas replied to adventure_rn's topic in General Nursing

    My nursing super power was getting confused, agitated patients to calm down without drugs or restraints. I remember the time when I was even able to make a combative, demented gentleman stop fighting...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    DNR/DNI: What Age Would You Choose to No Longer Be Full Code?

    VivaLasViejas replied to LollaPaupRN's topic in General Nursing

    I got my doctor to sign DNR orders for me after participating in several futile codes. I hated the feeling when I broke ribs during compressions and I didn't want it to be done to me. Now, I'm willing...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses who are on anxiety/depression meds?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Hooven20's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    There is no shame whatsoever in taking psychiatric medication. I am on SIX psych meds for bipolar disorder, and I take that many because five weren't enough. I am not ashamed of it; I call it taking...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Non clinical boss wants to sit in on pre-op visit with patients

    VivaLasViejas replied to erica2117's topic in General Nursing

    Maybe not, but it IS tacky for the manager to be on her phone and flipping through papers during the visit. Also, the patient should be asked if it's OK for her to sit in while the nurse is working....
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Please help

    VivaLasViejas replied to Blueeyed76's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Then you probably won't have an issue with your school or the Board of Nursing when it comes time to get your license. You still need to disclose your arrest, of course, but the fact that you're a CNA...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Schizophrenic Nurse Job Accommodation

    VivaLasViejas replied to falonmontgomeryRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    In my experience as a nurse with a mental illness, there's never a really good time to ask for accommodations. If you do it during an interview, you're virtually guaranteed not to get the job; if you...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Please help

    VivaLasViejas replied to Blueeyed76's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    A lot depends on what the charges were, and what kind of drugs you were in possession of when you were arrested/convicted. It also depends on how long ago the more recent arrest was and what you have...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Please help

    VivaLasViejas replied to Blueeyed76's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Yes, you must disclose, and disclose it all. Otherwise it'll come up on your background check and you'll have to explain why you omitted the information, which will probably cause hospitals and...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Unable to Advance my RN Position

    VivaLasViejas replied to Volley88's topic in General Nursing

    Pardon my ignorance, but are you in another country? I've never heard of an RN 1 or RN
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Considering LTC for a first job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Raya123's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You have a wonderful attitude. LTC isn't for everyone, but it was for me and I loved geriatrics. I hope you will continue to enjoy it even when the going gets tough. Best of luck to you, and Welcome...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Need advice on cover letter after suspended license

    VivaLasViejas replied to sesanders26's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hello there, and thanks for joining allnurses! I can sympathize with you on being dual diagnosed. I have bipolar I and am an abstinent alcoholic (sober for over 25 years). I've been on disability for...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    This might be really mean but I have to say it...

    VivaLasViejas replied to Beeboop12's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Yes, OP, it is really mean but you *didn't* have to say it. If you consider sick, elderly, frail people to be "melted, fat, puffy blobs moaning in a bed", you really don't need to be a CNA, at least...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    New stroke

    VivaLasViejas replied to lilli99's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    What is ovr? Do you mean vocational
  22. VivaLasViejas

    If not nursing what other career would you have done?

    VivaLasViejas replied to nurse2bnoob101's topic in General Nursing

    Writer.
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Best Stethoscope

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseJane101214's topic in General Nursing

    I loved my Ultrascope. It was purple with a holographic bell. Nobody else had one like it so I could lay it down someplace and not have it walk off. I could also hear well with it; strangely, I bought...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    The Union Is Coming

    VivaLasViejas replied to CV_RN_ICU's topic in General Nursing

    I never liked unions because I didn't like putting my hard-earned money toward causes I disagreed
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Crushing Oral Medications...New Regulation

    VivaLasViejas replied to ltcnurse4u's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    As a former state surveyor, I say this is ridiculous. No one who has ever done a med pass in LTC would agree with such a regulation, and that includes many surveyors. I feel sorry for the ones who...