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

    Mini IV infusion at school?!

    VivaLasViejas replied to KeeperOfTheIceRN's topic in School

    I loved starting IVs. It took me a long time to "get it", but once I did I became very good very fast. It was fun to get calls from the ICU to come place an IV because the patient was a hard stick and...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Is it to stressful?

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

    I worked part-time as a CNA in the hospital while I was going through nursing school. It was one of the best things I ever did, because I learned a lot and got a good perspective on med/surg nursing....
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Can lpn do 1st assesment.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Chestercopperpot's topic in General Nursing

    It does vary by state. My son is an LPN in a nursing home, and he does admission assessments and initial care plans everyday. LPNs in my state (OR) can do almost everything but insert PICC lines, hang...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Death and the Soul

    VivaLasViejas replied to dream'n's topic in General Nursing

    Strangely enough, the only spirit I've ever felt "pass away" was my husband's. I've been present at a lot of deaths, but never before had I had that experience, even though I am religious and believe...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Is it just me...but nursing is "haunting" me.

    VivaLasViejas replied to magnoliamockingbird's topic in Retired Nurses

    I've been out of nursing exactly three years to the day. I never really meant to retire, but a series of mental and physical health issues combined to force me into it. To be honest, I don't really...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Falls!!!!Falls!!!!!Falls!!!!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to texas tea's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I was a surveyor for a little while and I never heard of any such thing. Of course, states have their own way of doing things, but I'm aware of no federal regulations regarding in-services for *all*...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Allnurses needs nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    I love the school nurses forum too. I've never been a school nurse but I find the content to be informative, interesting and fun. Definitely one of the
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Seriously?!?! You gotta be kidding me!

    VivaLasViejas replied to ~Mi Vida Loca~RN's topic in General Nursing

    WOW.
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Become a nurse with severe eczema?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Pengirl's topic in General Nursing

    Sorry about your eczema. I had it way back when I was a young adult, and it was miserable. Using zinc in high doses finally got rid of it after trying almost everything on the market. As to your...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    My Mom passed away. Did I do the right thing?

    VivaLasViejas replied to LovingMom1's topic in General Nursing

    I've had patients who passed away during or shortly after a turn. Not sure what kind of phenomenon is at play here, but it's more common than you'd think. It was simply your mom's time. Nothing you...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    What's Your Best Nursing Ghost Story?

    VivaLasViejas replied to steffck's topic in General Nursing

    Years ago when I was working nights at a LTC facility, there was a resident who was a former nurse and she used to make rounds with me. She was still hale and hearty at 100, and she had so many...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Long Term Care Nursing is Lame

    VivaLasViejas replied to purplegal's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I forget who said this---Dr. Seuss, maybe?---but "wherever you go, there you are". Don't think you can escape feeling inferior simply by moving into another specialty. It sounds to me like there are...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing students who want to be NP's

    VivaLasViejas replied to Teaching the future's topic in General Nursing

    Good post, Zyprexa. I like your user name
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Dealing with a dirty old man

    VivaLasViejas replied to BookishBelle's topic in General Nursing

    If that's the worst thing you ever have to encounter, you'll be a lucky nurse indeed. Nursing is full of "dirty old men" who will literally chase you around the bed if given half a chance. It's also...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Psych nurse trying to find counseling for my own mental illness

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

    A lot of nurses who work in mental health have MH issues themselves. I think it makes most of them more empathetic towards the patients. There is no shame in having a mental health diagnosis of any...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses with severe clausterphobia?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Daron73m's topic in General Nursing

    I'm actually doing CBT with my therapist. I never thought about it in relation to my claustrophobia because I've had much more serious concerns to deal with in therapy. Sounds like something worth...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Please help, need to go back to work now! Have missed 1.5 months +

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mustkeepjob32's topic in General Nursing

    The previous posters are right: the only way to get past your anxiety about going to work is to...go to work. Believe me, I understand. I've been through something similar and I wound up quitting...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    What Is the Problem???

    VivaLasViejas replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Wow. Where I come from, the nurse does all the meds and treatments, all the diabetic cares, all the orders, all the doctor calls, all the family contacts, all the supervision of the CNAs, all the lab...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses with severe clausterphobia?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Daron73m's topic in General Nursing

    I can handle elevators as long as they're not very full and everybody isn't taller than me. TB mask testing is pure hell though, and I'd have to be very well sedated to get me in an MRI machine. In...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone else employer not drug test you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to JuliusSeizure's topic in General Nursing

    When I worked for the state, no health information, UDS or even a TB test were required. I thought that was weird because I'd had to pee in a cup for every other nursing job I had, but it was no big...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Change in condition documentation

    VivaLasViejas replied to Samanthatbo12's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Chart what you observed (R. seated on toilet, slow to respond to voice/touch, remains lethargic, VS WNL etc.) and what you did about it (did you call her family and doctor? Send her to the ER? Put her...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Blood Test Predicts Response to Antidepressants

    VivaLasViejas replied to Purple_Clover's topic in Psychiatric

    That's amazing! How do you get this test done, and how much does it cost? Insurance probably doesn't cover it, I imagine. I'm happy with my current bipolar med "cocktail" but it could use some...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    What does your nursing career repair bill say about you?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Beldar_the_Cenobite's topic in General Nursing

    I wish I'd gone back for a master's degree so I could teach. I was a substitute clinical instructor for a brief time early in my career when an ASN could do that, and I loved it. Shortly after that...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    New nurse anxiety

    VivaLasViejas replied to rkapadia's topic in General Nursing

    Unfortunately, there is no way around the first-year jitters except through them. Almost every nurse suffers from some form of (usually) non-clinical anxiety as they are learning; it is expected, and...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Are side jobs manageable?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brianna25610's topic in General Nursing

    I worked as a CNA in a hospital while I was going to RN school. It was totally manageable, and I loved it as I was learning from my nurse co-workers. Of course I had great ​help from family and...