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

    Losing my religion

    VivaLasViejas replied to jadelpn's topic in Spirituality, Religion

    I completely agree with the OP. Our faith (or lack thereof) has no place at the bedside---this is the patient's experience, not ours. We also need to be secure enough in our own belief system to...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    Bipolar Nurse Hoping to Open Awareness of Mental Illness

    VivaLasViejas replied to HannaRNBSN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm surprised to hear that. A lot of LTCs will hire anybody with a license and a pulse, and you have much more to offer than that. They are usually willing to train, as the turnover is high in many...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    My career really has never recovered from the events of the past couple of years, but at least I didn't have to give it up completely. I was diagnosed as bipolar in February 2012 after a series of...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    We all have to do what we believe is right for us. However, I hesitate to encourage anyone to file for SSDI....not only because it's almost impossible to get on the first try---especially without an...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Personally, I wouldn't apply anywhere that requires a med list. This is private, personal health information that is NONE of the employer's business. I know for myself, there is no way an employee...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Bipolar Nurse Hoping to Open Awareness of Mental Illness

    VivaLasViejas replied to HannaRNBSN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Yes. Many people believe that a former supervisor cannot tell a prospective employer anything negative about an applicant, and that is simply a myth. While they can't legally lie about you, they can...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    It takes time. It takes patience. It takes support. Stigma will probably always be with us, because our culture absolutely refuses to grow up and stop marginalizing those it views as "different". If...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Bipolar Nurse Hoping to Open Awareness of Mental Illness

    VivaLasViejas replied to HannaRNBSN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    You can always say that a family emergency came up and you were needed immediately to care for a sick/injured loved one. You don't have to tell them that the sick person was YOU. In fact, you don't...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Pre-Employment Drug Screens and Perscription Meds

    VivaLasViejas replied to EmmaLynnSmithRN's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Try not to over-think this. You're driving yourself crazy and it's really not as complicated as you might think. Just be prepared to tell the specimen collector what you're taking and produce the...
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm very surprised you were on an antidepressant alone; they can induce mania if not balanced with a mood stabilizer or an AP. By the way......do you know what type of bipolar you were diagnosed...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm glad you're going to talk to your doctor on Monday. Although I will say that pretty much ALL antipsychotics will make you sleepy, especially at first. What you should ask is why he feels you need...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    That was me for a long time, too. I've known something was wrong since I was very small; unfortunately, when I was growing up nobody talked about mental illness, and the one time my parents took me to...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Oh, yes. It's definitely worth it. I love feeling like a reasonable human being who's able to move through life with some confidence and handle its annoyances with some grace. I love having the normal...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I hope some of them will weigh in here. We can't advise you as to how to take your meds or what kind you should take, but we can offer our support and experience with this disorder. And honestly, I...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    A Heartfelt Apology to DON's

    VivaLasViejas replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    That's what my psychiatrist calls PPS---Positive Prayer Sign. In other words, "Thank GOD you're
  16. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Yes, there is stigma, but not so much around here at Allnurses. Over the past few years, a dialogue on mental illness has sprung up and encouraged members to take a closer look at the people behind...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    You're welcome. There is actually a small but vocal number of nurses here with bipolar disorder, as well as articles that discuss the illness at some length. I myself have written a few of them, if...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    What nursing habits do you take home?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    There is NO five-second rule at my house---if it hits the floor, it goes in the trash. Unless it's one of my pills that costs almost $5
  19. VivaLasViejas

    Any nurses ever take Risperdone?

    VivaLasViejas replied to OrganizedChaos's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hello~ Bipolar 1 with rapid cycling here. My experience with atypical antipsychotics is that they do cause sedation, especially in the early going. This effect does lessen with time, but I don't think...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    I blew it......

    VivaLasViejas posted a topic in Nurses Recovery

    It was twenty-one years, eight months, and twenty-nine days that I'd racked up in my pursuit of lifelong sobriety. I hadn't taken a drink in all that time......not even through losses and illness and...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    I blew it......

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I was right......saw my doctor Monday, and he thought some 12-step meetings would be a good thing. He agreed that my not having access to the Ativan was wise, but that if I were ever to give my...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    A few questions about bedside manner.

    VivaLasViejas replied to 0.adamantite's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I think I fall somewhere in the middle of all this. I've had many, many compliments from patients and families over the years, but seldom received cards/letters or commendations to management. At...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    You all are so brave!!! And Great Nurses!!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to mustang_convt's topic in Nurses Recovery

    Thank you for sharing! You sound like a great advocate and support person, and your RN friend is lucky to have you on her side.:) There's really no magic formula for helping someone in the early...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Nurses in trouble get second chances - Minnesota

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nursing Career

    It seems to me that the laws governing nursing practice should be uniform from state to state, just like our licensing exam. A nurse should not be able to get away with behavior in one state that...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    A good day for nursing

    VivaLasViejas replied to sbostonRN's topic in Nurses Rock

    Every now and again, we win one. This sounds like it was that kind of day for you. Great