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

    Am I being discriminated against?

    VivaLasViejas replied to sdugan07's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Been there, done that, got the unemployment check stubs to prove it. You have been given some excellent suggestions. Now, you need an escape hatch---a place to go if/when disaster strikes. Keep...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Sleep Schedule

    VivaLasViejas replied to chavezm1109's topic in Health, Stress Management

    When I worked 3-11's---my preferred shift since I'm a night owl---I would come home from work around midnight, take a shower, surf the 'Net for awhile, then go to bed around 0200 and get up for the...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Hanging It Up

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    That's great to hear! I've really got a good feeling about this---it's the job I've wanted for years, and I think I'll do well. For the first time ever, I'm more excited than nervous about starting a...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Learning from the Past - Resolutions for a Better Year of Nursing in 2014

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

    2013 was a horrible year for me in almost all respects, especially my personal life and career, both of which went in the dumper around the same time. However, the year is ending on a high note as I'm...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Pressure sores and geriatic facilities

    VivaLasViejas replied to TurtleCat's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It's not always neglect of hygiene and positioning, although that doesn't help matters any. Nutrition is another major concern that comes into play in the formation of pressure ulcers. Many frail...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Medical marijuana in the nursing home

    VivaLasViejas replied to Enthused RN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It was allowed in one nursing home where I've worked. The resident was A & O and could smoke independently, although his MM and paraphernalia were kept in the med cart and signed out each time he...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses with Mental Illness: Share Your Self-Care Strategies

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

    What do you do for that? I hope you are not going untreated.....life's too short to be that kind of
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Hanging It Up

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    Well, today was the day.....I am now officially retired from clinical nursing. As I passed my meds, performed the usual G-tube rituals and did treatments, I felt a bit wistful because I knew I was...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    There is Hope!!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to RNKellie51303's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Congratulations! I love happy endings.......and happier beginnings. Best of luck to you in your new
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Mmmm, fruitcake is so good. :)

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in General Students

    NOTHING could make fruitcake taste
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Hanging It Up

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    Now it's totally official. :) Today I received my notification that I have been selected for the position of Client Care Surveyor, what my job classification and salary are, and when I am to report...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    jobs

    VivaLasViejas replied to Vindication's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm an ADN who has somehow been incredibly lucky enough to do everything I wanted to do in nursing (and then some). I would recommend going the BSN route, if you can, because it's the entry point for...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Christmas at the nursing home

    VivaLasViejas replied to CapeCodMermaid's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    My nursing home does something similar for the residents every year, complete with a visit from Santa. After all, we are FAMILY and we treat our residents as such. They're the reason we have
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Hanging It Up

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    Please don't be sad. I had a good career, it's just time for me to go do something else. Nursing doesn't always chew us up and spit us out in our 50s; with me, it was a combination of physical and...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    jobs

    VivaLasViejas replied to Vindication's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I've done a little bit of a lot of things, and a lot of a few other things. I have bipolar 1 and struggle with anxiety as well, and I've found that low-stress jobs don't really exist in nursing. The...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Hanging It Up

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    Thank you! This is indeed true. I don't know if it's the same everywhere, but in my state, a surveyor who previously worked in a given facility within the past 2-3 years cannot survey that facility. I...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Hanging It Up

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired Nurses

    I've gone over to the 'dark side' and become a state surveyor. Hey, they've got cookies AND hot cocoa over
  18. VivaLasViejas

    What do you want for Christmas?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in General Students

    I've noticed that my list gets shorter every year, because most of what I want can't be
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing Is A Business: Get Used To It!

    VivaLasViejas replied to All4NursingRN's topic in General Nursing

    I'm a month shy of 55, and I just landed my dream job and will be leaving the bedside for good. But I'm sure as heck not doing it to step aside for a younger nurse; I earned this job by working hard...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Affordable Care Act Users Guide for Nurses

    VivaLasViejas replied to Jb4564's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Bedside nurses have never been the ones to explain complicated insurance information to patients. Why ever would we start now? We don't have the time, nor do we have the knowledge to navigate "the...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing and anxiety

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

    I think you have a vicious cycle going here: you feel anxious overall, which makes it harder for you to absorb and perform new tasks, which only makes you more anxious, which in turn makes it even...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Violent/combative residents?

    VivaLasViejas replied to nursehaley91's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I haven't seen too many residents with a PRN antipsychotic who weren't receiving a scheduled dose as well, and when I have, I've asked the MD to D/C the AP. They just don't do that much on a PRN...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    How do you know when it's time to move on?

    VivaLasViejas replied to NYNursingStudent's topic in Nursing Career

    "Wiping butts," as it was put so elegantly, is a basic part of nursing that you won't escape unless you go into management or some other area that doesn't involve floor work. If you're not learning...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Did I Make the Right Decision?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    No, life isn't easy at all. (((HUGS))) But you did the right thing, IMHO. You need to take care of you and your baby right now.....that's your first
  25. VivaLasViejas

    impossible resident

    VivaLasViejas replied to nurse4lyfe37's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Please be aware that it is against the rules and regulations of most (if not all) states to deny a resident access to her/his room. That is their HOME, and a survey team would probably take the...