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

    Accomadations for bipolar disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to bella_'s topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hi, Tesfanurse, and welcome! Did you find that you needed accommodations during nursing school? And if so, how did it affect your relationships with your professors and fellow students? I'm asking...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    The Blahs

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

    Sounds like more than just a case of the 'blahs' to me. Please consider filing for unemployment and using the downtime to get some counseling and figure out what your next move is. I'm sorry I can't...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Accomadations for bipolar disorder

    VivaLasViejas replied to bella_'s topic in Nurse Disabilities

    As much as I regret to say it, I would strongly advise you to keep your health issues private. If you feel you cannot handle the coursework, you may want to take a break from nursing school until you...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed

    VivaLasViejas replied to LVN_Soon2Be's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    You have a marvelous attitude toward your mental health conditions. That in and of itself is nothing short of incredible given the suspicion with which mentally ill Americans are regarded, especially...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    One Year Later...

    VivaLasViejas replied to HunnieBadger's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Hunniebadger, you have grown SO much over the past year! You've accepted responsibility for your actions and worked hard to become both a better nurse and a better person....and I for one am very...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed

    VivaLasViejas replied to LVN_Soon2Be's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    What an inspirational post! You have certainly chosen a difficult path---nursing is hard even for people without mental health issues---but you obviously have a great deal of courage, and will serve...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Can I be a registered nurse if I have bipolar disorder?

    VivaLasViejas replied to MeAndArmini's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    That was a great post! It's taken me two years to get healthy, and even so I still feel a little shaky. I started a new job a month ago that's FAR more involved than I had any idea it would be, and...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Can I be a registered nurse if I have bipolar disorder?

    VivaLasViejas replied to MeAndArmini's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Texas is really obnoxious about this. What they put nurses with MI through in order to get or keep a license is ridiculous---they treat them like criminals. So I'd avoid TX like the plague if I were...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    my husband told me maybe I can't handle the stress of nursing

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

    Please, please, PLEASE get some counseling!! With what you've described about that hateful preacher and your health difficulties, you need it desperately. Anonymous strangers on the Internet can't...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Growing Up Unvaccinated

    VivaLasViejas replied to wtbcrna's topic in Disaster Preparation

    Do not even get me started on people who don't have their children vaccinated. It will not be
  11. VivaLasViejas

    how much do you disclose

    VivaLasViejas replied to Vallywillis's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I made the mistake of disclosing my bipolar disorder to an employer once. Honestly, I didn't have much of a choice because I had a pretty severe manic episode at work, and a few months later had to go...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Can I be a registered nurse if I have bipolar disorder?

    VivaLasViejas replied to MeAndArmini's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm a longtime RN with bipolar 1 who's had some major struggles with nursing jobs over the course of my career, but would still encourage you to pursue nursing as long as you're being treated and can...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Epic (Nursing) FAILS!

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nursing Humor

    I've got a relatively new one from my days at the LTC. I was having a terrible morning med pass. Nobody had replaced the stock meds and I had to run back to central supply several times for vitamins,...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    For the Bowel Obsessed

    VivaLasViejas replied to jadelpn's topic in Nursing Humor

    And let's not forget the "Poo-Pourri" commercials.....those are a double-barreled
  15. VivaLasViejas

    The Top 10 Things I Loved About Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurses Rock

    I continue to be amazed at the number and the quality of responses this post has received. I'm happy that you found it so positive and that it's helped you remember what you love about nursing.
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Panic/Anxiety Disorders & Prescriptions at Work

    VivaLasViejas replied to yasae's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I have some fairly significant anxiety which is one of my bipolar symptoms, and I take a small dose of Klonopin every night. This is sufficient to control my anxiety in most cases, so if I start...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Epic (Nursing) FAILS!

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nursing Humor

    Funny stuff!! I'd forgotten all about this old thread....nice to see it resurrected again. Keep those 'fails' coming,
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Colorful Shoes - Unprofessional?

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

    Those shoes are darling! I wouldn't have had a bit of a problem with my staff wearing them when I was a DON. The only time I got after them about shoes was when they were dirty or
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Depressed, anxious,

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

    First of all, unless you cannot endure another day, another week, another month at your current job, DO NOT QUIT until you have another offer in hand. Not only will that add another gap in your...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Do you think your work place should support healthy eating?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    Right now I'd kill for a coffee pot and a vending machine of ANY kind. I work in a new government building that has everything except the essentials of life. How can a three-story facility in the...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Two questions...one may be stupid :)

    VivaLasViejas replied to Laura in Canada's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    I'm another ADN who never had a burning desire to go back to school---no, make that NO desire. But I've done everything I ever wanted with my degree, including management and now LTC surveyor. I guess...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Ashamed of Disability

    VivaLasViejas replied to BeOne77's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I think it depends on the woman, and on the therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist. (I refer to all three because my own doctor does both my therapy and med management.) Personally, I'm glad my p-doc is...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    The Top 10 Things I Loved About Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurses Rock

    Thank you. I think we've all met them: nurses who are so burned-out that the casual observer can't even imagine why they continue in the field if they hate it so much. Their presence in the...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Ashamed of Disability

    VivaLasViejas replied to BeOne77's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'll check it out this weekend while I'm recuperating from a loooooong week of training (State Surveyor school). However, I am very unlikely to be swayed from my personal stance on meds, which is...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    How do I handle state survey

    VivaLasViejas replied to itsdebraanne's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Some things surveyors want to see: A willingness to work with us. We know you're nervous, in fact, some of us are new to our jobs as well and WE'RE nervous (but we won't let you know that, of course)....