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

    Joint Commission had me for lunch.

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

    Well, they have to have something to justify their phony-baloney jobs, don't
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Joint Commission had me for lunch.

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

    I couldn't either, which is why we came to a mutual parting of the ways four months into the job. Part of the problem was I was too friendly toward the staff---I lacked the poker face and the killer...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Help, question about a patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to david0188's topic in Psychiatric

    As an aside: prednisone could definitely contribute to her manic symptoms. You ought to see me when I have to take it for my asthma---I bounce off the walls and spend every dime I can lay my hands on....
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Joint Commission had me for lunch.

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

    It's probably as sucky as being a state surveyor. I always felt bad for the facility staff because I'd been on the receiving end of surveys for years and knew how stressful they are. Unfortunately,...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Have you ever cried in front of the relatives?

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

    I've cried with family members before. No great bursts of weeping and wailing, but there have been times when I couldn't help letting a few tears fall. Some situations are SO sad, and being an empath,...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Yay!! I get the poop magnet award!! Who else is so fortunate?!

    VivaLasViejas replied to RunninOnCoffee's topic in General Nursing

    I was once known as the Angel of Death at my LTC when nine residents on my unit died over the course of two months, most of them on my shift. I got to be rather paranoid about it after awhile....
  7. VivaLasViejas

    The Right to Die

    VivaLasViejas replied to BabyGirl1979's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It IS hard being the family member on the other side of the equation. My husband has stage IV carcinoid tumor of the pancreas, which spread to liver and bone before we ever knew what hit us. Now,...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Warning----Fashionista in the House

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    I'm surprised she didn't consider herself "too posh to
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Retiring In Your 70s

    VivaLasViejas replied to PacoUSA's topic in Retired Nurses

    I know I'll be working till at least 70, just not in nursing. I retired at the end of last year, but of course can't afford to retire from the work force entirely. Gotta eat and pay bills and all...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Getting into to nursing school with Bipolar depression and anxiety?

    VivaLasViejas replied to bekahinpink's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    Yes, you can get into nursing school, and yes, you can be a nurse with bipolar disorder and anxiety. A lot of us have done it, even though nursing school is tough and demanding. It takes a combination...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Is Job Hopping the Norm for Nurses?

    VivaLasViejas replied to westieluv's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    I've had 7 jobs in the past 6 years, including one that lasted for 2 1/2 years. Part of my issues with holding onto jobs are a low tolerance for being treated like crap, the rest have to do with a...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Help, question about a patient

    VivaLasViejas replied to david0188's topic in Psychiatric

    People don't leave their medical problems behind when they step onto a psych unit. You were right to be concerned about this lady's SpO2 and take action, even though she's not symptomatic and has a...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Try to sing along!

    VivaLasViejas replied to mikethemurse's topic in Correctional

    Love it! You're a pretty good poet. I enjoy taking songs and substituting new lyrics too.....just wish I could remember my latest version of the 12 Days of Nursing.
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Goodby for now

    VivaLasViejas replied to PrayeRNurse's topic in School

    Smh. If a school nurse is not a "need-to-know" member of the staff, I don't know who would be. It's ridiculous. You are right to get out of Dodge as quickly as you can. Best of luck in finding a new...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Pedal pulses

    VivaLasViejas replied to shayandkaty's topic in General Nursing

    And if you do have difficulty finding PPs, when you do find them it's good to mark the spot with an X so it's easier for the next nurse. :) I seldom had trouble finding PPs, but I had a terrible time...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    What's your Myers-Briggs personality type?

    VivaLasViejas replied to bekahinpink's topic in General Nursing

    I'm
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Robin Williams RIP: Coping Mechanism?

    VivaLasViejas replied to aspiration's topic in Psychiatric

    I've heard that about him for years, but I don't think it's ever been made clear if he lived with bipolar or not. He certainly did seem manic a lot of the time, but maybe that was simply his stage...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    In need of career advice

    VivaLasViejas replied to 1137o's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Sometimes more is needed to deal with a situation like yours. Your best bet is to talk to your primary care physician about your fears and see if s/he thinks a referral to a mental health professional...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    National Suicide Prevention Day

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

    This is a subject which is very near and dear to my heart. I've felt that kind of desperation before and I know about the dark places where one can become lost if something (or someone) doesn't...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Med-surg nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNnewbie2014's topic in General Nursing

    No, you're not crazy; what you are is in the honeymoon phase of your new job. You will probably be surprised at the intensity of the work once you are on your own; that's when almost everyone gets...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses need an outlet to manage stress

    VivaLasViejas replied to Pride/hardwork17's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Sometimes it's the job AND the person. And yes, depression and anxiety are real illnesses that deserve
  22. VivaLasViejas

    AT&T Will Keep Your Grandma Out of the Nursing Home

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in General Nursing

    Wow. I see the capabilities of this technology, but Grandma and Grandpa deserve privacy as well as safety, and I for one would be FURIOUS if my kids wanted to install this system in my house to...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Employment physical

    VivaLasViejas replied to Babushka2's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I've never had to go through anything like that, but I've heard that quite a few employers will at least ask for a list of medications. In my opinion, one does not give up the right to privacy when...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Pt ages

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

    I can't disagree with firstinfamily's post, even though I wish I could because I'm part of the Baby Boomer generation---all of whom are now 50 and over---and I myself have several chronic illnesses...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Creepy Crawlies

    VivaLasViejas replied to 0.adamantite's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    650-lb male. Open wounds. Maggots. 'nuff