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

    Post PEG tube removal dressing

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cristina_Bambina's topic in General Nursing

    A 2 x 2 drain sponge with a piece of tape, changed daily, ought to
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Do a disproportionate amount of nurses suffer from anxiety?

    VivaLasViejas replied to R!XTER's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Nursing is a very stressful job, which tends to make anxiety worse in someone who already has it and can create anxiety in people who don't have a pre-existing disorder. I've always been prone to...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Ultrascope

    VivaLasViejas replied to smartassmommy's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    I love my Ultrascope. I had a Littman that I couldn't hear much of anything with, then I borrowed a friend's Ultrascope and it was amazing! I bought one with a holographic head and purple tubing, and...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Made a med error

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jessica28's topic in General Nursing

    You are not a bad nurse. A bad nurse would have covered up the error and not followed through with continued monitoring. I know med errors are tough. But any nurse who tells you they've never made...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Should I choose nurse in clinic position or OBGYN hospital position?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Allimitless's topic in General Nursing

    I'd stick with the clinic if I were you. A good work environment is the best---and rarest---of all possible worlds, even if it's not the hospital (where your chances for advancement don't sound very...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Jacob Rockstar-RN Psych Nurse Action Figure

    VivaLasViejas replied to Davey Do's topic in Psychiatric

    Evil clowns!!
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Problems with q15 rounds

    VivaLasViejas replied to AustinPower's topic in Psychiatric

    Hello, and welcome to Allnurses! My only experience with psych units is from the patient's side, but where I was, the nurses made the Q 15 min rounds because they rarely had CNAs or techs. Fortunately...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    cravings

    VivaLasViejas replied to StillRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I don't have a drug problem, but I am an alcoholic who's been sober for 24 years and I still get cravings every now and again. But instead of trying to distract myself, I allow myself to experience...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Supporting family member with severe depression?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Hollybobs's topic in General Nursing

    Inpatient saved my life in the fall of 2014. Up until then I'd been scared to death of the hospital, but when I became more frightened of the outside than what might be on the inside, it was time to...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Supporting family member with severe depression?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Hollybobs's topic in General Nursing

    Here are some things not to say to someone with depression: "I know how you feel." No, you don't, even if you yourself suffer from depression. Their experience of it is different from yours. "If you...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Compliance

    VivaLasViejas replied to michaelhansonRN's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Excellent post. Welcome to
  12. VivaLasViejas

    File this one under "things I think but won't say"...

    VivaLasViejas replied to allnurses's topic in General Nursing

    If you yell at me one. more. time. I'm going to give you some pillow therapy. I'm sorry, but "Mama" is not going to get better. She is 94, demented as hell, and she has cancer everywhere. Please don't...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Has anyone gone through nursing school with depression?

    VivaLasViejas replied to trapstudent's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I've battled depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder for years, and the most important thing I've learned from it is that I can't take care of anyone else unless I take care of myself first. You MUST...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    1/16 What I learned this week: Siamese Twins be Pimpin'

    VivaLasViejas replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    I used baking soda poultices on mine. It's one of my grandmother's old home remedies. All I did was make a paste of baking soda and warm water, put it in a soft cloth and slap it on the cyst, then let...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Interview Question - Do I Have a Problem with WHAT?

    VivaLasViejas replied to SunnyPupRN's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    What did you find
  16. VivaLasViejas

    boundaries

    VivaLasViejas replied to fataldream81's topic in General Nursing

    The same applies. It's still a boundary violation no matter what kind of nurse does it. Health care isn't about the nurse getting her/his needs met, it's about the patient. And it doesn't include...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Is there any Hospital in Tampa Bay Hiring RN's with felony background?

    VivaLasViejas replied to gacosta12's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    Hi there, and welcome to Allnurses! I can't really answer your question, but I will ask our moderating team to move your post to the Nursing with a Criminal History forum for a better response. Best...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    1/16 What I learned this week: Siamese Twins be Pimpin'

    VivaLasViejas replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    I totally understand where he's coming from. He feels lousy much of the time anyway; who wants to feel much worse than that every single day? I spoke to an oncology nurse friend of mine and she told...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses leaving the field?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Infofreak411's topic in General Nursing

    I'm retired due to disability. I became unable to work a couple of years ago and ended up on Social Security. But I still keep up with the profession through continuing education and of course,
  20. VivaLasViejas

    1/16 What I learned this week: Siamese Twins be Pimpin'

    VivaLasViejas replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    I learned that being a nurse and being a caregiver are two totally different things. My husband has terminal pancreatic cancer and has decided that if the chemo they want him to go on doesn't kill...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses leaving the field?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Infofreak411's topic in General Nursing

    I left nursing two years ago. I was completely burned out and my anxiety level was off the charts. That being said, I don't regret going into nursing because I have a lifetime's worth of great...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Mental Illness

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNdynamic's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Yes, it's caused a lot of trouble in my work life. I have bipolar 1 disorder and made the mistake of telling my boss when I was first diagnosed. Well, I couldn't exactly hide it because I was manic at...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    acute care personal statement

    VivaLasViejas replied to itsjlarious's topic in General Nursing

    This wall of text is overwhelming and hard to read. Please consider asking the mods to reformat your post with paragraphs so other members don't pass it by. Best of luck to you in your
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Feeling emotional

    VivaLasViejas replied to History101's topic in General Nursing

    In which case she did you a favor by not hiring you. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be warned ahead of time that the unit is a problem area. Count your blessings and move forward with your job...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Even the Stoic Have a Breaking Point

    VivaLasViejas replied to Rose_Queen's topic in General Nursing

    ((((Rose Queen)))) Ah, incidents like this are hard to handle and impossible to forget. I wish you the best in processing it and moving forward from it. Good