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

    patient/family challenges

    VivaLasViejas replied to vetnrse's topic in General Nursing

    When I worked in assisted living and LTC, I thought it would have been a piece of cake if all I'd had to worry about were the patients. The families were what got me. SOME of them were wonderful and...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Can I still be an RN if I was in a Mental Hospital?

    VivaLasViejas replied to pediatricnurse2016's topic in General Students

    Even if you do have to disclose, some BONs will not make a big deal out of it if you explain that you're under the care of a doctor and have been stable since your hospitalization. I had to do it when...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Obesity: A disease or a lifestyle

    VivaLasViejas replied to TexMex22's topic in Health, Stress Management

    THIS.^^ I also feel it's necessary to remind folks that food is the one "addiction" that can't be completely eliminated. You can give up drinking, smoking, drugs (and I've given up all three) but you...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    renewing license last minute

    VivaLasViejas replied to grammy57's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    So much is done online these days, usually the only "paperwork" you get from the BON is an e-mail reminder that your license renewal is due in x-amount of days. My state does send a courtesy postcard,...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Most surprising/shocking/interesting thing you've seen

    VivaLasViejas replied to TexMex22's topic in General Nursing

    I once cared for a patient who had an abdominal wound the size of a honeydew melon. She was the victim of a gastric bypass gone horribly wrong (she got a severe infection) and had had repeated...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Non-FIT Nurses and FIT Nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to trinitymaster's topic in General Nursing

    The question should be, how do you NOT eat all that bacon?? Why, it's one of the four food
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Jacob Rockstar-RN Psych Nurse Action Figure

    VivaLasViejas replied to Davey Do's topic in Psychiatric

    BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Caring for morbidly obese bariatric Pt

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cheyenne RN,BSHS's topic in General Nursing

    Why would obese patients have any more anger issues than other types of
  9. VivaLasViejas

    I am so discouraged

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

    Hi, Mac, and welcome to Allnurses! We are glad you're here. You have my sympathies. I've had a couple of on-the-job nervous breakdowns myself, so I can relate all too easily. I used to think it was...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Jacob Rockstar-RN Psych Nurse Action Figure

    VivaLasViejas replied to Davey Do's topic in Psychiatric

    I'm not even a psych nurse and I found this hilarious!! Where do you GET this stuff,
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Healing Others But Killing Ourselves. Why Nurses Eat Their Young

    VivaLasViejas replied to LIRBA's topic in General Nursing

    Hello there, and welcome to Allnurses. I'm sorry this happened to you; it must be very disappointing. However, even with all of the asterisks used here, there are too many identifiers and too much...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Grief - how can we avoid it as nurses loosing a patient?

    VivaLasViejas replied to lnxyourxeyez's topic in General Nursing

    It's different every time we lose a patient. Some deaths are harder to bear than others. Obviously we can't burst into hysterics when a patient we care about dies, we have to remain professional. It's...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    To scrub or not to scrub...?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NursePatty77's topic in General Nursing

    That's different. If they tell you to wear scrubs, OK, otherwise it's best to wear business attire. The days when you could go from work to a job interview at another facility are gone for good (to...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    If you wear Danskos.... How often do you replace shoes?

    VivaLasViejas replied to dannygirl04's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    Danskos were too heavy for me. I didn't like them at all and never wore them after the first few shifts I worked in them. I went back to New Balance, which I swear were made for me---they always fit,...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Keeping feet moisturized

    VivaLasViejas replied to pinkiepieRN's topic in General Nursing

    I know this will sound weird, but I swear by Bag Balm ointment. It was originally meant for cows when their udders became sore, but it's suitable for human use as well. You'll want to use an old pair...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Should I give up and find another job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Crissy327's topic in General Nursing

    Hello, and welcome to Allnurses! We're glad you're here. To answer your questions: Your manager owes you an explanation of what "concerns" they have about your performance. It is not fair to say this...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Can You Lose Your CNA License for Job Abandonment?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Pj1975's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    If you clocked in for your shift, then yes, technically you walked out on your job and can be fired. Often facilities will report this to the Board of Nursing as well. I'm sorry, but the BON takes...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Accusing Hospice

    VivaLasViejas replied to jeastridge's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    That last paragraph gave me goosebumps. What a beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing this experience with
  19. VivaLasViejas

    bipolar recovering addict cant get job ! is it over

    VivaLasViejas replied to PCORRAL's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I've been reading this thread on and off, and I'm sorry it's devolved into a peeing contest between members. PCORRAL asked for support, not judgment. As someone who struggles with bipolar and...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Being an individual

    VivaLasViejas replied to Circulate's topic in Men in Nursing

    Work really isn't the place to display one's fashion sense. That being said, I had a drawerful of colorful and even whimsical scrunchies that I used to keep my hair up, and I changed them every day....
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Seasoned nurses, I need your wisdom!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to JoI8815's topic in General Nursing

    A stress-free nursing job?? Where do I sign up? Seriously.....yes, you could use more clinical experience. However, you have a job that a) you are happy with, and b) doesn't cause you to want to run...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Mispronunciations That Drive You Nuts

    VivaLasViejas replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    My family does stuff like that all the time, but the best was Bates Nut Farm, which I accidentally called Nate's Butt Farm. They have never let me live that one down, and to this day I have to think...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    I am an ER doc. I wrote a short story about a girl having a seizure.

    VivaLasViejas replied to pg212's topic in General Nursing

    Haunting and well-written. Thank you so much for sharing this with
  24. VivaLasViejas

    too scared of going back to nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I echo what caliotter said. You have got to get your mental faculties together or you will not be able to practice nursing. I can empathize because I have some of the same anxiety issues and can no...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Career advice welcome!

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNmomma3's topic in General Nursing

    Hello, and Welcome to Allnurses! I don't know enough about your circumstances to advise you, other than to say go with what your heart tells you. Life is simply too short to be unhappy at work. Find...