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

    Homecare

    VivaLasViejas replied to Dgentile's topic in Home Health

    I wouldn't work for Brookdale again if they were the last employer on earth. Their pay is low for the amount of work they demand, and they are chronically understaffed. They're losing money right now,...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Starting nursing school at 37...

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

    I was 36 when I started nursing school, and 38 when I graduated. At the time most nursing students were traditional (late teens-early 20s), so I really was a lot older than most of my classmates. But...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Is this within my scope?

    VivaLasViejas replied to idasavealife's topic in General Nursing

    In Oregon an LPN can do almost anything except hang blood and give IV push meds. My son is a resident care manager in a SNF who does everything but sign off on the MDS---he does assessments, care...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Advice on comfortable shoes

    VivaLasViejas replied to marlena.erika's topic in General Nursing

    For me it was always New Balance running shoes. They're a respectable price (around $70 and up) so you can replace them after six months or so. I love them because every pair I've ever tried on fits...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Discharge patient with Foley, but forgot to give the syringes to remove foley

    VivaLasViejas replied to Bamafan2011's topic in General Nursing

    My son-in-law was recently released from the hospital with a Foley after surgery. Luckily both my son and I are nurses so D/C'ing the catheter was no big deal, but I don't think it's wise to leave it...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Shoulder/back injury

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursestef2's topic in Health, Stress Management

    You really should be seeking answers from your personal physician or nurse practitioner, not from a nursing forum where we are not allowed to offer medical advice. Your provider knows you best and can...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing school in my 30s

    VivaLasViejas replied to mirem's topic in General Nursing

    You're going to be 37 in four years whether you become a nurse or not. There is no such thing as being "too old" to go to nursing school, and you have plenty of time to do that. You can take a few...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Ortho or SNF?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Summer131's topic in General Nursing

    Definitely ortho, even though the work is hard and you have to deal with a host of medical issues (obesity, DM, dementia etc.) which can be very frustrating. The problem with SNF---even though it is...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Where 2 go from here!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Latina24j's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Welcome to allnurses! You may want to consider case management, telephonic triage nursing, utilization review etc. All of these require experience, preferably as an RN, but it's worth it to inquire...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Does anyone else ever envy their patients?

    VivaLasViejas replied to purplegal's topic in General Nursing

    I'm currently enjoying a relatively stress-free life on my Social Security Disability payments. I can stay up all night and sleep half the day away if I want; I eat when I feel like it; I watch TV and...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    New Nurse Dealing With Depression?

    VivaLasViejas replied to c.dom's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I couldn't help noticing that you referred to "manic-depressive" episodes. Do you have bipolar disorder? If you do, you're probably aware that the condition can make things quite complicated, although...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses who were poor at math?

    VivaLasViejas replied to matcha-cat's topic in General Nursing

    I completely sucked at math when I was in school. I could barely do long division when I graduated from HS. Fast forward seventeen years later when I was taking pre-reqs for nursing, I took a VERY...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Disclosing traffic citations to CA BRN

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

    No. You were 'convicted' of an infraction, which doesn't need to be reported. If you had failed to appear in court or not paid the fine, that would be a misdemeanor and you'd have to report it. (I was...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Please help, this is complicated.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cruella de ville's topic in General Nursing

    Please accept my condolences on the loss of your beloved husband. I too am a widow of less than a year and I feel for you. However, don't try to put your grief away too quickly. It's a mistake many...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Mental health advocate

    VivaLasViejas replied to Flo.'s topic in Psychiatric

    You can and should be an advocate for mental health. I just don't recommend you share your own experiences with patients or God forbid, your employer. I have rarely seen any good come out of...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Hospice patient and vitals

    VivaLasViejas replied to Goofaroo's topic in General Nursing

    (((((HUGS)))))
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Hospice patient and vitals

    VivaLasViejas replied to Goofaroo's topic in General Nursing

    I'm so sorry for your loss. My husband died in hospice care of pancreatic cancer last July, so I feel for you. As a nurse I didn't insist on vitals either; what good would it have done? All I wanted...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    RFID Implantation and Implementation: A Look Into the Future

    VivaLasViejas replied to David Offenbaker's topic in General Nursing

    Exactly why I would never consent to having an RFID implanted. Not that I have such an exciting life, but I don't want to be tracked by the government or anyone else. 'Nuff
  19. VivaLasViejas

    did I make a mistake?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Irini20's topic in General Nursing

    You absolutely should have reported the injury at the time it happened. Back injuries are notoriously difficult to assess on one's own, and you should have been examined by an occupational health...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Will Be Writing Soon

    VivaLasViejas replied to JoannieO's topic in General Nursing

    It's easy---just start writing! Articles have to be at least 500 words and approved by the admins before they're published. You also need to write a little 'blurb' to tell us what the article is...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    What is the grossest thing that's happened to you???

    VivaLasViejas replied to PrincessAlexis's topic in General Nursing

    I once had an elderly and very confused lady who vomited into her meal tray...and then she began to eat again. I almost yakked
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Should Female Muslim Psychiatric Patients Be Allowed to Wear Hijabs?

    VivaLasViejas replied to purplegal's topic in Psychiatric

    I was wondering about that too. When I was IP we had straws for the water
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Associates degree first or straight to a BSN program?

    VivaLasViejas replied to FutureRN0914's topic in General Nursing

    I was able to go a long way with my ASN, up to and including being a DNS in long-term care, but that was 20 years ago. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen very often nowadays and a BSN is preferred for...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    End of life - is it necessary to flush the port?

    VivaLasViejas replied to lakeeler's topic in General Nursing

    Yes...just in case the port is ever needed. When my husband was on hospice, he still got his port flushed at home by our hospice nurse every 30
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Night shift + debilitating depression

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNonamission's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hope you are seeing a mental health professional to help you deal with your issues. This is too much to handle on your own. I can sympathize with you---I have bipolar I and had problems with night...