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

    Need encouragement - sad and stressed

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

    I believe the rule of thumb is, if you THINK you need professional help.......you do. As for "getting used to it", in time you will adjust and be able to handle things better emotionally, but I hope...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Someone like me...

    VivaLasViejas replied to HunnieBadger's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I know the feeling, only with me it's the fact that I'm on a batch of psych meds. I recently broke my big toe in a minor MVA and went to the urgent-care center to have it X-rayed; when the doctor came...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Medical leave of absence confidentiality

    VivaLasViejas replied to OmegaRN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hello, and Welcome to Allnurses! I know how easy it is to get a little paranoid about these things. I have bipolar too, and sometimes it seems like there's stigma hiding under every rock and behind...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Epic (Nursing) FAILS!

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nursing Humor

    I. am. DYING. ? The mental pictures are beyond
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Being pulled to medical

    VivaLasViejas replied to Sissybee1's topic in Psychiatric

    'Practice on the senile'??! I do hope you're
  6. VivaLasViejas

    New to sobriety from everything...jumping out of my skin

    VivaLasViejas replied to newmommy26's topic in Nurses Recovery

    It's very common to have trouble with memory and mood swings in early sobriety. Your brain has some healing to do! Give yourself time, and remember that you have the same choice every single day to...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    When to say "When"?

    VivaLasViejas replied to silverbat's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Esme12 and I both have had bad experiences with trying to get accommodations for our disabilities. And the ADA isn't much of a help when employers have offices full of lawyers who know a million and...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Living With Dysthymia

    VivaLasViejas replied to nynursey_'s topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hi there. I'm sorry you're feeling lousy. Nursing school is tough enough without being depressed on top of it. You most definitely have my sympathies! I'm wondering though, if you've tried cognitive...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Should I report my nursing facility for neglect?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Figglehorn68's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    People who jump to conclusions often make bad landings. You cannot assume a stage IV pressure ulcer is the result of neglect. I have seen people literally go to bed with a stage II and wake up with a...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Infernal Equinox

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Nurse Disabilities

    In case anyone's wondering where I've been for the past few weeks---and even if you aren't---I've been off the boards for the most part because I'm battling with my bipolar again. This time it's a...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Infernal Equinox

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Well, I shouldn't have to tell you that going off your meds without your doctor's supervision wasn't a good idea, but since you mentioned it...... j/k Seriously though, I know it's tough to stick to...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    When to say "When"?

    VivaLasViejas replied to silverbat's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    (((HUGS))) I don't know the why's and wherefore's of getting on SSDI, only that it's very difficult and most people are denied the first time they apply. I hope some others here will weigh in and give...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Infernal Equinox

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I know what you mean about fearing the hospital. I'm terrified of the place even though I've never been inpatient (although I've come very close on a couple of occasions). OTOH, if that's the only way...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Anxiety + Nurses = A Need for Support

    VivaLasViejas replied to nancysuzanne38's topic in Health, Stress Management

    Hello, and welcome to Allnurses! A thread like this is a good way to start. We cannot offer any kind of medical advice here, but we can support each other and discuss the issues you talked about in...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Infernal Equinox

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Thank you. He's doing really well, which is great for us both because he's had to watch out for me so much lately. And yet, when we were in the store the other day and he was talking to an old friend...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Areas with a great mental health system?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Umberlee's topic in Psychiatric

    There are some fabulous mental health resources right here in Western Oregon. We have a freestanding psych hospital with outpatient services in the same building, a world-renowned psychiatrist (Dr....
  18. VivaLasViejas

    "State's Here!": Demystifying the Long-Term Care Survey

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You can PM me anytime, lglnrs.
  19. VivaLasViejas

    The Top 10 Things I Loved About Nursing

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Nurses Rock

    As a nurse who has left the clinical side of the profession, I've had a little time recently to ponder both the good and bad aspects of the vocation I chose long ago. And although it got to be too...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing school struggle with a mental disease

    VivaLasViejas replied to myallnursesusername's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I think you and I are on the same brain-wave. Welcome to Allnurses! I'm one of the nurses with mental illness that Esme12 was talking about (bipolar 1 with rapid cycling) and I know exactly what you...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Top medications used in LTC

    VivaLasViejas replied to jkline18's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I've noticed when I've been out on surveys that a LOT of residents are on Seroquel. Popular drug, that......only trouble is, it's not supposed to be used for dementia, and even when it's used for...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Escaping your past mistakes

    VivaLasViejas replied to Oogie's topic in Nurses Recovery

    It took my dear, sweet, patient husband several years to be able to forgive me for what I put him through during my drinking years, and still longer before he could trust me entirely. This is a man...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    anxiety depression and adhd have caused me to struggle to find my fit as a new nurse

    VivaLasViejas replied to brad0428's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I tried making a similar point earlier, but must have inadvertently deleted my own post. Oh well. All I wanted to say was that I can relate to the OP as a nurse with a mood disorder, but I've also had...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    How do we support our mentally ill

    VivaLasViejas replied to MatrixRn's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    People with broken brains deserve to be treated with as much compassion and care as those with broken arms/legs/whatever. Instead, we're regarded as alien, even dangerous, and even those of us who are...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Depression takes me out of work and I bear all

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brookm482's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    If I could "Like" this post 100 times, I would. I can't add much to what the previous posters have said, except that I'm proud of you for advocating for your own needs and educating people about MI....