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

    Jacob Rockstar-RN Psych Nurse Action Figure

    VivaLasViejas replied to Davey Do's topic in Psychiatric

    This reminds me of the single housefly that somehow got through three locked doors to buzz us patients during groups (this was when I was in a psych unit last fall). The thing drove us nuts, but at...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Eliminating the Stigma Associated with Mental Health Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jessica Quigley's topic in Psychiatric

    My psych clinical consisted of two days in the inpatient unit. At the time I was scared, but as I got into the rhythm of the unit I realized that the patients were just regular folks who were in a...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Returning after FMLA leave, please share.

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

    My return after going out on medical leave did not go well, alas. I was out for three weeks due to a mental health crisis, and when I got back I was told they couldn't make reasonable accommodations...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    disturbing observation at the Children's hospital...

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseCard's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I've got 14 years on you and I didn't really have trouble getting jobs until my mid-50s. And I've never been a skinny Minnie since I had my first child. I think what finished me off was my history of...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Documenting "Falls"

    VivaLasViejas replied to HehLPN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    A fall is an unanticipated change in planes. If you see the resident lower himself to the floor intentionally, it's not a fall. Technically it is one if he's found on the floor with no witnesses to...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    popping blisters, abcesses, etc

    VivaLasViejas replied to lumbarpain's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I once knew an LPN who thought nothing of doing sharp debridement of diabetic ulcers with scissors! She was fascinated with wounds, abscesses etc. and thought for some reason that she was qualified to...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Want to be a nurse, just no butt wiping or other yucky stuff please

    VivaLasViejas replied to Emergent's topic in General Nursing

    Amen to the above! If you can't abide the thought of cleaning up bodily fluids, you can't be a nurse. It's as simple as
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Off sick with stress. Very sad :-(

    VivaLasViejas replied to Fluffy bear's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I know what it's like to be stretched so thin, like a rubber band that finally snaps in the middle. I too have had to be put out of work due to stress, so you...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Keep my License Active or Let it Expire?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    I just renewed my license in December even though I am not working as a nurse, nor will I in the forseeable future (I am trying to get disability due to medical problems). Who knows, I may want to...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Jacob Rockstar-RN Psych Nurse Action Figure

    VivaLasViejas replied to Davey Do's topic in Psychiatric

    This stuff is CRACKING ME UP!! Keep it coming, please and thank
  11. VivaLasViejas

    SOBER 1 YEAR

    VivaLasViejas replied to newmommy26's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Congratulations! That first year of sobriety is the toughest, but you made it. Just remember that you can NEVER relax your vigilance. Even those of us who have been sober for decades can slip up. Be...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing is Family Friendly?

    VivaLasViejas replied to mama12's topic in General Nursing

    Don't be afraid to post here even though you're not yet a nurse. :) When appropriate, the mods will move posts to different forums, but you needn't worry about
  13. VivaLasViejas

    whats the difference between offense and conviction? im confused

    VivaLasViejas replied to futurenurse93_'s topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    You've received two thoughtful responses. What kind of help are you looking
  14. VivaLasViejas

    What's wrong with me?

    VivaLasViejas replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    I had a couple of COBs try to take a piece out of me, but when I graduated I was almost 40 and a bit tough for them to gnaw
  15. VivaLasViejas

    whats the difference between offense and conviction? im confused

    VivaLasViejas replied to futurenurse93_'s topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    An "offense" is the crime with which one is charged and/or convicted. You will have to disclose your arrest record, even though technically you were not convicted. Arrests will show up because...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    maybe im being paranoid...

    VivaLasViejas replied to eternalbride's topic in General Nursing

    Thanks. I just spit coffee across my
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Jacob Rockstar-RN Psych Nurse Action Figure

    VivaLasViejas replied to Davey Do's topic in Psychiatric

    I agree. A comic
  18. VivaLasViejas

    maybe im being paranoid...

    VivaLasViejas replied to eternalbride's topic in General Nursing

    In a word:
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Am I in violation of code of ethics?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursey916's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Thank you. That makes the picture much clearer. I do hope you'll take what has been said to you into consideration and learn how to set (and abide by) professional boundaries. I can't overemphasize...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Am I in violation of code of ethics?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursey916's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Wait a minute---are you a licensed nurse, or not? I'm confused; in several posts you gave the impression that you were working and are licensed as a nurse. Now you say that you've been out of the...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Am I in violation of code of ethics?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursey916's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    I think we've established that the behavior of the OP crosses major boundary lines. She hasn't been back to this thread, and I hope we haven't scared her off. That being said, I also hope she...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    MDS Coordinator Skills-organization

    VivaLasViejas replied to crnacc's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    That's insane. The worst assignment I ever dealt with was 40 residents divided by skilled (10 beds) young adult psych (15 beds) and custodial care (15 beds). That psych unit was the worst---it seemed...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Working the same unit you were once hospitalized (psych)

    VivaLasViejas replied to Ddestiny's topic in General Nursing

    Personally, I would find working on the same psych unit where I've been hospitalized to be very awkward. It was bad enough that my admitting nurse was someone I'd worked with in the
  24. VivaLasViejas

    How to get rid of hospital smell?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Coffee Nurse's topic in General Nursing

    Personally, I'd rather have the soap and alcohol pad smells in my pores than GI bleed or a purulent wound. I remember running around for an entire shift with those odors emanating from me, driving...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    lost my RN job for a second time

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNNEWOLD's topic in General Nursing

    First of all, I want to welcome you to Allnurses. We are glad you're here! Secondly---and I'm not saying this to make you feel bad---it does sound like hospital nursing is not for you, at least not at...