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

    So disappointed in hospital RNs and MDs

    VivaLasViejas replied to carachel2's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    That explains it, then. But I must say that when I was IP, there was a young woman who was diagnosed with type II DM on the unit. They didn't let her go home until her BG levels were WNL and she'd...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Psych brought up the "D" word today

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    That's amazing. As it turns out, I did get a lawyer and filed for SSDI in late August. Things seems to be moving along OK, I've been through the first two rounds of paperwork. I happened to be...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    So disappointed in hospital RNs and MDs

    VivaLasViejas replied to carachel2's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I wonder if assessments (or the lack thereof) are considered an issue in psych hospitals as well. People don't leave their medical problems at the door of the unit. As it happened, I was in decent...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Benzos

    VivaLasViejas replied to HikingEDRN's topic in General Nursing

    Well, that explains that. I've taken Klonopin nightly for years, but when I was in the hospital recently I had to ask for it every night, as it was listed as a PRN. I asked my attending doctor to...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    New OR Nurse injured 8months in Now what

    VivaLasViejas replied to alodocios's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Wow. I am so sorry you're going through all of this. I wish I had some words of wisdom to give you, but of course we can't offer any type of medical or legal advice, so I'm going to encourage you to...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Certification : I Did it For the Money.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brenda F. Johnson's topic in Nursing Career

    When I became a Certified Medical/Surgical Registered Nurse back in '04, my hospital paid for the educational materials, examination, and half of our certification fees. It was also worth another 3%...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Why do you think nurses leave the profession?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nacki's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Nailed
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Might loose another job...I'm suicidal

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

    I spent a week in a psych facility recently for suicidal ideation (and I had a plan), and let me tell you that it was the smartest thing I could have done at the time. First and foremost, I was safe,...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Homeless working the system, multiple admissions

    VivaLasViejas replied to adnrnstudent's topic in Psychiatric

    Are you still a student? I'd really hate to think someone who hasn't even graduated would be so jaded already. I echo what some of the other posters said: It is not our job to judge our patients. It...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    How to make holiday fun

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mishelly's topic in Psychiatric

    I was inpatient at Halloween, and the nurses rented us some fun movies and made popcorn for us. We also got candy and were given pumpkins to paint as we chose. Thanksgiving and Christmas are probably...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    short term memory issues

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Weight loss can definitely be helpful in fighting depression as it tends to give one more confidence, but it's not a cure-all. You'll be the same person you were before losing weight, and you'll still...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Choose your own adventure: Come upon a person cutting

    VivaLasViejas replied to puravidaLV's topic in Psychiatric

    When I was in the hospital recently, a male patient was discovered hacking away at his wrists with the end of a toothbrush. A toothbrush! It's amazing what people can use as weapons when they are...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    short term memory issues

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    No one can tell you whether or not to become a nurse. Sometimes if we push through the anxiety and stress, we come out the other side much better off for the experience. But sometimes it takes the...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Charting in patient rooms

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

    From a patient's perspective.....I don't like it when the nurse is standing in my room documenting our encounter. It makes me a little self-conscious and I don't share as much as I probably should....
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Whats the normal intake and output for a 5 wk old?

    VivaLasViejas replied to lnxyourxeyez's topic in Pediatric

    Is this a homework
  16. VivaLasViejas

    short term memory issues

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Esme12 is one of the moderators here; she has examples of brain sheets that have been helpful to many members. :) As the saying goes, there are two kinds of nurses: those who make mistakes, and those...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Want to return to work with new skill

    VivaLasViejas replied to CWR1975's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    My story of dealing with mental illness in the workplace is not a happy one, so I won't go into detail. It's up to each person as to how to handle it when the subject comes up.....which it will....
  18. VivaLasViejas

    short term memory issues

    VivaLasViejas replied to SamRoseRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I feel your pain. I have bipolar 1 and am on five different medications, two of which are anti-psychotics, and they have memory problems as a side effect. So between the disorder and the meds used to...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Your patients thoughts on YOU

    VivaLasViejas replied to iscreambiebah's topic in Psychiatric

    I was inpatient recently and had great nurses throughout my stay. One taught me some meditation and breathing techniques; several others sat with me and talked as if I were their only patient. They...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Best Tennis Shoes

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

    I wore New Balance running shoes when I worked the floor. The brand fits me like it was made for me, and they have a wide variety of styles and colors. They're also light, which is great when you're...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Can an employer ask?

    VivaLasViejas replied to UFEDRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Wow, that is really invasive! Family history has nothing to do with the job---that is absolutely ridiculous. And remember, you don't give up your rights under HIPAA when you become a healthcare...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Would Seroquel show up on a drug test?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OswinOswald's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Most UDS don't test for the presence of drugs like Seroquel. They test for benzos, salicylates, THC, opiates and the like, but anti-psychotics won't show up because that's not what they're looking...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Thank you

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Psychiatric

    This is a shout-out to psychiatric nurses everywhere. I recently spent a week in a psych unit where I had wonderful nurses. I took advantage of all the therapies, but it was the 1:1 with the nurses...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Keeping License Active?

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    I appreciate your perspective. I'll be 56 in a couple of months and have actually filed for disability, so I don't see myself returning to clinical nursing, ever. I'd do chart reviews for insurance...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing student and anxiety

    VivaLasViejas replied to Skitter's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    As the saying goes, "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you're right." I understand your ambivalence about starting the nursing program when your anxiety is so poorly controlled, and...