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

    Medical retirement - inactive too soon

    VivaLasViejas replied to Retired APRN's topic in Retired Nurses

    Hello and welcome to Allnurses! I feel for you---my situation is different, but I can empathize with you all too easily even though I'm still in nursing, at least in a peripheral sense. I consider...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Need advice: Frequent falls of non compliant homebound pt with dementia

    VivaLasViejas replied to autumnlea's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    I agree that antipsychotics are totally inappropriate in this situation, especially as they tend to INCREASE falls because of the sedative effect. A seat belt is no solution either.....what if she...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Observation of the day

    VivaLasViejas replied to R!XTER's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Anyone ever notice how the amount someone brags about ____ skill is inversely proportional to the number of times s/he has actually performed it? I once worked with a nurse who often talked about how...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hence the term "mental health
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Pre-Employment Drug Screens and Perscription Meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to EmmaLynnSmithRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    That's what gets my knickers in a twist, and it's why I will never seek employment with a company that asks personal questions about my health history and what meds I take. If public safety were their...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Interesting. I wouldn't have thought that depression would be as stigmatized in the workplace as some other illnesses. In the early 2000s, it seemed that everybody was talking about it and at least...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Pre-Employment Drug Screens and Perscription Meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to EmmaLynnSmithRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Well, following that logic, there wouldn't be very many nurses left to take care of people because almost ANY drug, especially those taken for depression, anxiety, pain, and other chronic conditions...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Welcome back! We've actually been having a lot of mental health discussions over the past year or so. AN members aren't judgmental the way people can be at work or out in society, so this is a safe...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Is it ok to wear nail polish to a interview?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Bouncyball's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Agreed! Besides, fake nails are a literal breeding ground for all sorts of little nasties and don't belong on a nurse,
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I still think you need to pursue a solution with your original p-doc while you wait to see the new one. He put you on the Risperdal and has a responsibility to help you deal with the side effects,...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Can't say as I blame you there. You should have heard from your doctor by now unless he's out sick or at a conference or something, and even then they always have someone on-call. Sorry you're having...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Yep, you definitely need a second opinion. Doctors don't usually pull a bipolar dx out of thin air, but then there is some evidence that it's being OVERdiagnosed in this country. Should be interesting...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Just out of curiosity, why are you jumping ship so quickly? Sometimes the MAs don't get messages to the doctor in time......I've had that happen before, but then I have a psychiatrist who is extremely...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    starting over and a nervous wreck :(

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

    Have you talked to a counselor or other mental health professional about this? You have undergone a seismic shift in your life---moving around from everything and everyone you knew, to live in a place...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    What you should never say at an interview

    VivaLasViejas replied to NRSKarenRN's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    "Where's your
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm sorry you've had that experience. I think most people who suffer from mental illness have run across discrimination and judgment in our workplaces. But not all nurses or managers are that...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    ((((JesusKeepMe)))) Big HUGS for you, hon. I'm glad you've found a way to help yourself through your current crisis. You have joined a community of nurses who will give you support when you need...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    They are, in many cases. A healthy diet, exercise, sleep, and a sense of purpose are all some people need to combat mild depression. The kind of psychiatric conditions we're talking about here are the...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Have you gotten a second opinion? Sometimes doctors will diagnose bipolar when a patient reports periods of unusual energy and activity (hypomania) that don't necessarily come with an elevated mood....
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Hearts and Entertainment | Life of a Nurse

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in General Nursing

    It all started with the guy in room 156, who pulled the oldest trick in the book and still got a newish nurse to buy it. We've had an epidemic of respiratory infections in the building lately, so...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Doing favors or giving gifts for patients: Unacceptable?

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

    I think patients respect nurses more who stay within professional boundaries. I'm not talking about running down to the Coke machine as a favor, or letting a dialysis patient have a slice of pizza...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I am so sorry for your experiences! You know, if I could have kept my mania under control and hidden, I probably would have used cancer or some other chronic medical condition as a reason for being...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Calling In Sick: Dealing With Mental Illness At Work, Part 1

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Thank you for that. ^^ It's a rare workplace that allows and even encourages nurses with MI to be who they are. And it's true---an objective observer can see an impending mood episode long before the...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Tactical Nudity and Other Fun Aspects of Deployed Army Nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to Lunah's topic in Government, Military

    Thank you for this wonderful account of your deployment! I loved to hear the stories my two "Army brats" have told about their time in Iraq and Afghanistan and the privations they endured, as well as...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Happy story for once.

    VivaLasViejas replied to loriangel14's topic in General Nursing

    That is AWESOME!!! I love to hear things like this......makes me goose-bumpy all over.