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

    Challenge for mental illness

    VivaLasViejas replied to jtmarcy12's topic in Psychiatric

    If we're going to raise awareness of mental illness, we need to start with our own profession. It is not easy to be a nurse with mental illness. Not only are we vulnerable because of our condition(s),...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Robin Williams RIP: Coping Mechanism?

    VivaLasViejas replied to aspiration's topic in Psychiatric

    I'm not sure why or how this thread has turned into a screed against psychiatry and psychoactive medication, but I'd like to get it back on track by saying I hope that the loss of Robin Williams will...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Psych brought up the "D" word today

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    That's the thing. I can't work as a nurse, unless it was as an advice nurse or something "behind the scenes". I can't handle pressure anymore, and as we all know, nursing is loaded with it. I also...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Is it me? Foolish mistakes, don't want the responsibility anymore

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

    Anxiety and depression were part of what cost me my career. Toward the end I found myself making mistakes, and when I had some near-misses on serious situations I took myself off the floor. I just...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Love my job....No really. I am serious.

    VivaLasViejas replied to AnnaleaRN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Thank you for your positive attitude, and for putting in a good word for a much-maligned specialty. I am so glad you love your job!
  6. VivaLasViejas

    LTC 101: What To Expect

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Not every long-term care nurse chooses LTC as a profession. Sometimes, it chooses us. But no matter how you've arrived at your first job in a nursing facility, there are challenges awaiting you that...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Calling it quits after 17 years....

    VivaLasViejas replied to NCRN97's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I called it quits after 17 years myself, but for mental health reasons. I'm looking to reinvent myself at the age of 55 and still have NO idea what I'm going wind up doing. But it's not going to be...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Overwhelmed! Help!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sbrewster's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Welcome to the wide, wild world of LTC! Yes, it sounds like a typical workload for a nursing facility, and yes, you will find a rhythm. But it takes time to get used to it, and you're in for a rough...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Florence Nightingale's Birthday: World's Most Famous Nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in Nurses Rock

    It's BAD all
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Florence Nightingale's Birthday: World's Most Famous Nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in Nurses Rock

    A lot of people make that same mistake. The abbreviations can be confusing; some folks in the bipolar community use BP, others use BD. No worries.
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Florence Nightingale's Birthday: World's Most Famous Nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in Nurses Rock

    I hear you! I hadn't read anything about Florence Nightingale having borderline personality disorder---I heard she suffered from depression and/or manic depression---but I agree that mental illness...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Very worried I made a huge mistake..just need some advice

    VivaLasViejas replied to webrn1969's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I think catmom meant to say, we hope you'll stick around and won't need to post in THIS particular forum again. Believe me, if you don't pass the UDS someone will let you know. Meanwhile, try to...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Very worried I made a huge mistake..just need some advice

    VivaLasViejas replied to webrn1969's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Hello there, and welcome to Allnurses! Just out of curiosity, are you on any meds for your bipolar? If you're not, you may want to consider it to keep the anxiety and mood swings at bay, rather than...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Does anyone else have nursing nightmares while sleeping?

    VivaLasViejas replied to jrbl77's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I used to have such vivid nightmares about work that when I woke up, I was just as tired as I would've been had I actually done what I was dreaming about! I once called in, needing a "mental health...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Is it Med/Surg.. is it nursing.. is it me?!

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

    What does your psychiatrist say about your situation? Granted, he's not a nurse, but if he's anything like my p-doc, he knows something about burnout. I think it's safe to say that most healthcare...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Advice and words of wisdom needed.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sydney2011's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Two nurses and only four CNAs for 103 residents?! I don't know about your state, but in mine the ratios are 1 CNA for every 7 residents on days, 1:9 on evenings, and 1:17 on nights. The nursing ratios...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Just got fired-AGAIN!

    VivaLasViejas replied to jayebug's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    The same way you do if you haven't been terminated.....you emphasize your strengths and try to minimize your weaknesses. There are only so many things your former employer is allowed to say about...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    In monitoring program (DMU) 4 1/2 years sober and screwed up!

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNDMU/PNAP's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I had to have my husband lock up my Ativan last fall after I OD'd on it, and that was after almost 22 years of sobriety. I'm not in any monitoring program, thank God, but I tell my story to let people...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    ALF for low income

    VivaLasViejas replied to mvm2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Assisted living sounds like the perfect solution for the OP's grandmother. She is far too functional to be appropriate for ICF (long-term care unit) and if she is on Medicaid, she should be able to...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Enough is enough or is it?

    VivaLasViejas replied to apnurserock's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    As the saying goes, they who stir the (rhymes with sit) pot should have to lick the
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Just got fired-AGAIN!

    VivaLasViejas replied to jayebug's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm sorry about your job and your financial difficulties. I know what it's like to have a hard time affording meds---I am currently on unemployment benefits of $360 per week---but being stable is my...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Bridge why or why not?

    VivaLasViejas replied to apnurserock's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    Or who cannot afford this
  23. VivaLasViejas

    They should be force to retire

    VivaLasViejas replied to apnurserock's topic in Retired Nurses

    `snif, snif` Frankly, I smell an agenda. The OP also has a thread up asking if all mentally ill people should have a guardian. I'd like to know, to what purpose doth he stir the
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Mentally ill

    VivaLasViejas replied to apnurserock's topic in Patient Education

    The idea of needing a guardian just because I have bipolar disorder is laughable. There are times when I definitely need a caregiver because I'm in the middle of a mood episode and lack insight, but...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    To move away from bedside nursing or not?

    VivaLasViejas replied to kfhllc's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I agree with the poster ^^. Most of the things we regret in life are the chances we didn't take. If you don't enjoy it, you can return to bedside nursing without difficulty. It's because of your great...