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

    When A Nurse Needs A Doctor.....

    VivaLasViejas replied to nurse2211's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    My former PCP was the medical director at the LTC where I used to work. There was never any awkwardness between us, and in fact he gave me free medical advice at times when I needed it. He came to...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Keeping License Active?

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    Wow, I'm impressed! I knew I'd never make it to 70 as a nurse, but I'd hoped for better than 55. As far as work-from-home situations go, I think it would be worth it to look into doing reviews for...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    I feel like I'm never going to get good at IVs

    VivaLasViejas replied to greyL's topic in General Nursing

    It took me almost 6 years to get good at IV starts. Part of that was not working in acute care for the first 2 years I was licensed, and part of it was just lack of confidence because we had never...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Does anybody else feel guilty about calling off?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Codeblue1982's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    This thread did not need to be turned into an argument about members' parenting skills. It's a legitimate question: do you feel guilty when calling off sick? My answer is, it varies. If I'm really...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Forced Resignation - looking for advice

    VivaLasViejas replied to SailLove80's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I too have drawn unemployment benefits after resigning. I've even gotten them after being fired.....twice. If you are not fired for misconduct, there is always a chance you can get UIB. Frankly, I...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Depression is terminal??

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

    "Depressive" isn't politically correct, but it's used. I myself have been referred to as a "manic-depressive" so I'm familiar with the
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Returning to work from psych hospitalization

    VivaLasViejas replied to pinkiepieRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Have you thought about working part-time or job-sharing? I know it's difficult in your position, but if you could cut back to, say 3 days/week, you might do much better and still have time for a life...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Depression is terminal??

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

    You make some good points. I will admit that my POV is a bit skewed because I am disabled to some extent by mental illness. I'm just saying that I don't think physician-assisted suicide should be an...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Saw an angry clinical instructor...

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

    I hope Bortaz comes back soon with an
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Depression is terminal??

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

    I can see several sides to the issue of whether or not mental illness is a terminal disease. It doesn't have to be; even though there is no "cure", the vast majority of people with depression,...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    When entering orders, please remember....

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNBearColumbus's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    And when you're de-escalating a bad situation, you are defusing it---not diffusing it (spreading it around). That one drives me up the
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Miss Manners for Nurses

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

    I love being called "young lady" or "sweetie" by people who are older than me. I HATE it when younger people do it. Nothing pops my bubble like driving around with the windows down, rocking out to...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Dealing With Death After Personal Tragedy

    VivaLasViejas replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Oh, dear, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. What an awful thing to live with! I can't even imagine the depth of your pain. But I agree with the other posters who have advised counseling, not...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Saw an angry clinical instructor...

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

    What gets me---other than the obvious lack of professionalism on the part of the instructor---is that the students are PAYING to be abused!! Nowhere is it written that students must put up with being...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    RN returning to nursing after * years

    VivaLasViejas replied to kssheldon's topic in General Nursing

    Check with your state's Board of Nursing to see what the requirements are for re-licensure. I'm sure they will want you to take a refresher course, but you'll want to do that anyway because so much...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Are state benefits really all it's cracked up to be?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Livingdeadnurse's topic in Nursing Career

    I had unbelievably cheap health insurance (less than $75/month for both my husband and me) and virtually non-existent co-pays for meds, which was amazing considering his cancer meds are in the...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Needing some hope.

    VivaLasViejas replied to UnsavoryCharacter's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Addiction and alcoholism are complex physical and mental illnesses---nothing more, nothing less. And dealing with them successfully is very much a strength, not a weakness. You have to be tough to be...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Had to code my best friends husband

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

    For once, I am speechless. I am so
  19. VivaLasViejas

    I Need to Interview a Nurse!

    VivaLasViejas replied to breezy101n's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    The purpose of these assignments is generally to interview a nurse in person. While it's safe to say that the vast majority of people on here are indeed nurses or nursing students, there is no...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Saw an angry clinical instructor...

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

    Let's not blame this instructor's behavior on "mental problems". Some people are just
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Miss Manners for Nurses

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

    THIS.
  22. VivaLasViejas

    My Apology

    VivaLasViejas replied to NotMyProblem MSN's topic in General Nursing

    Agreed! No one is perfect. Don't leave the site because of this one mistake. I'm sure you have a lot of good stuff to bring to the table. Forgive yourself and move
  23. VivaLasViejas

    No specific training, total disorganization - is this normal?

    VivaLasViejas replied to JustAdmitToObs's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Oh, they are concerned with liability.....but when something goes wrong, they'll throw the nurse(s) under the bus. That is why you should carry malpractice insurance at all times, wherever you work....
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Avoid getting sick while working in a clinic??

    VivaLasViejas replied to anh06005's topic in General Nursing

    I went through just about every virus and bacterial infection known to humankind the first few years I was in healthcare. Now I hardly ever get sick, and I'm nobody's idea of a health-conscious...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    COBs...what do you think about the handling of the Ebola outbreak

    VivaLasViejas replied to richardgecko's topic in Disaster Preparation

    It is amazing how differently HIV/AIDS is handled now as opposed to in the early '80s. Now it's managed as a chronic disease, not a terminal one, and people are (largely) unafraid to touch or hug a...