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

    lovenex

    VivaLasViejas replied to zeb2's topic in Patient Medications

    I had to give my husband Lovenox BID when he had bilateral PEs late this past summer. I was pretty consistent with giving it to him at 1000 and 2200. It's supposed to be given q 12 hrs, but I think...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    My favorite med:

    VivaLasViejas replied to kool-aide, RN's topic in Patient Medications

    To receive: Versed (I call it my happy medicine!). I'm also rather fond of Zyprexa because it helps me keep my head on fairly straight and thus enables me to live in polite society. To give: Besides...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Ever accepted a job you knew was a mistake?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Lucky724's topic in Nursing Career

    Twice. Both times I was lured by the promise of high wages and better benefits, and both times I lasted less than six months. Never
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Nurse Surveyor for Dept. of Health and Human Services TX

    VivaLasViejas replied to Vincent12's topic in General Nursing

    Hello there! I live in Oregon so I don't really know how things go in TX, but here's what I know about surveying. It is A LOT of paperwork. Well, it's mostly done on the computer, but you also have...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    NIU FNP Program

    VivaLasViejas replied to kristikkcook's topic in General Nursing

    Hello there, and Welcome to Allnurses! We're glad you're here! I wish I could be of some assistance in answering your questions about the FNP program, but this post will "bump up" your thread so that...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    My favorite med:

    VivaLasViejas replied to kool-aide, RN's topic in Patient Medications

    Strange as it sounds, I liked giving IV Lasix to my CHF patients. Fortunately most of them had catheters so they didn't have to get up and pee every five minutes, and seeing the improvement in their...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Looking for advice for LTC

    VivaLasViejas replied to Pipnurse's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Sad to say, this is pretty much the norm in LTC. Some facilities are better than others, but almost ALL of them are understaffed and the working conditions less than desirable. It makes me angry...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Is there an Entity that assist Nuses who have been fired?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Quitting's topic in General Nursing

    There is no all-encompassing organization for nurses who have been fired. It happens to almost everyone at least once in life, and we either recover and move on or we don't. What we have is each...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Should I have to deal with this?

    VivaLasViejas replied to designer-mommy's topic in Psychiatric

    That whole scenario sounds like a nightmare. One nurse and a tech for 16 patients?! What kind of hospital staffs like that? It's very dangerous for all concerned, and the fact that the patients aren't...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Why are we against suicide?

    VivaLasViejas replied to SwampCat's topic in Psychiatric

    Here are a few thoughts from someone who was recently inpatient for suicidal ideation: First, most people who are thinking of suicide don't really want to die; we simply want our pain to stop. If...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    What are the stress level ranking for these units?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Humaneclowninscrubs's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Ortho is very stressful physically---lots of lifts and transfers. However, I would be a nervous wreck with the other specialties listed, so I can't really rank them in order of stress levels. They're...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Dialysis

    VivaLasViejas replied to deeg1946's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Wow, that's a lot to have to process all at once! I am so sorry you are going through all this. Per the site's Terms of Service, we cannot offer any sort of medical advice, but I'm hoping someone will...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    IV pushes

    VivaLasViejas replied to #NurseB's topic in Patient Medications

    I've never "slammed" an IVP drug except during a code. Some meds, like Phenergan and Ativan, are very viscous and need to be diluted, and even then they should be pushed very slowly to avoid...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    difference in degrees

    VivaLasViejas replied to skbella's topic in General Nursing

    I wish I had some answers for you there, but hopefully someone will come along soon who does. I just wanted to say Hello and welcome you to Allnurses. If you haven't already, I suggest you jump right...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    night shift and health

    VivaLasViejas replied to yoginurse29's topic in General Nursing

    I had to leave nights years ago. I loved them, as I am not a "day" person by any stretch of the imagination, but nights didn't love me back after about the age of 40. As I recall---or as my family...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Have you travelled to Africa is a invasion of privacy?

    VivaLasViejas replied to IrishIzCPNP's topic in General Nursing

    I'm leery of the government myself, but this is not the hill upon which I would choose to die. Asking if you've been to western Africa is NOT an invasive question---a little absurd, maybe, but...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Rutgers ABSN Essay Critique

    VivaLasViejas replied to cd0286407's topic in New Jersey Nursing

    Your text has many words that run together, e.g. "Ihave to write anessay". Probably a result of copying-and-pasting. There is a LOT of that in your original post. I didn't see a lot of run-on...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Infection Prevention RN inteveiw!!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to EarlineCox's topic in Infectious Disease

    Hello, and Welcome to Allnurses! You have joined a site which offers something for everyone in the nursing field. Enjoy! I'm happy that you have the opportunity to treat your body a little more gently...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    RN on NOC shift

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursepatty36's topic in General Nursing

    Hello there, and welcome to Allnurses!! Not living in California, I can't really answer your question, although where I live, an RN has to be in the facility only 8 hours/day; the rest of the nurses...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Lasix In Acute Asthma Exacerbation

    VivaLasViejas replied to All4NursingRN's topic in General Nursing

    In the absence of CHF or pulmonary edema, I can't imagine why an MD would order
  21. VivaLasViejas

    White Scrubs - CNA Clinicals

    VivaLasViejas replied to rndreams14's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    Definitely DON'T wear white underwear. That shows up way too clearly underneath even the thickest of white scrubs. Wear beige (bra and panties) or brown if your skin color is
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Atheist at Catholic hospital

    VivaLasViejas replied to kaydensmom01's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    I am a Catholic and I've never heard of a "ministry leader" anywhere but in Evangelical Protestant churches. We are generally rather private about our faith as a group, although there is a minority...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Rutgers ABSN Essay Critique

    VivaLasViejas replied to cd0286407's topic in New Jersey Nursing

    I'd like to see it when you've done some pruning. Like I said, your opening paragraph was great, now all you need to do is keep it up through the entire essay.
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Rutgers ABSN Essay Critique

    VivaLasViejas replied to cd0286407's topic in New Jersey Nursing

    Hello, and Welcome to Allnurses! First of all, your essay begins with an attention-getting first paragraph. I was intrigued from the beginning and I was curious to see the rest of what you had to say....
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Making others faint and fall out at the dinner table

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Critical Care

    Oh yeah.....it was funny, my kids got used to the stories and one even became a CNA (he is now in pre-nursing classes), but my husband and sister never did become accustomed to hearing about blood,...