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

    Can a diagnosis of a mental illness potentially harm your chances of getting a job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BlackBettyRN,OCN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    No, but they'll figure out some other reason not to hire you, or to let you go if/when you become symptomatic and need to go out on medical leave or FMLA. I've BTDT, and became completely...
  2. VivaLasViejas

    How to Take Care of Me When I Am Old

    VivaLasViejas replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Yes, yes, YES to all of the above!!! For myself, I'll add: 1) Do NOT get me up and make me sit in a wheelchair for hours on end because some nurse told you to. I have already instructed my family on...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Acute psych questions

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursejesssica's topic in Psychiatric

    That puts a different spin on things. It sounds like you are totally stable and could probably handle the acute environment, although you're right to be concerned and I still think you should hold out...
  4. VivaLasViejas

    Acute psych questions

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nursejesssica's topic in Psychiatric

    I would definitely think twice about working acute psych with a mental health history, especially since you yourself have been hospitalized. I don't know what your illness is, but a relapse could be...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Trouble Sleeping - excessive wakefulness/insomnia

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

    Yes, you do need to see your primary care provider to help you with these issues, as sleep is so very important---especially when you're in an intense, high-stress job that you're still learning. Best...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    You're violating their confidentiality

    VivaLasViejas replied to Alnitak7's topic in General Nursing

    Don't over-think this. The woman is full of it, and rude besides. I wouldn't rent her any more free space in my head if I were
  7. VivaLasViejas

    September 2013 Caption Contest: Win $100!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Joe V's topic in News, Announcements

    "Forgive me, Doctor, for I have sinned---I tried adjusting my meds on my own and haven't slept in four
  8. VivaLasViejas

    Curious....If D.O.N., A.D.O.N, and/or Admin. are fired w/out notice.,

    VivaLasViejas replied to nervousnurse's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Being escorted out of the building doesn't necessarily mean the manager has done something wrong or illegal. It's simply standard operating procedure. It's happened to me twice in my career, and it's...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    Signing your title in everyday signature

    VivaLasViejas replied to NurseGhostHunter's topic in General Nursing

    Yup, done it many a time, mostly on checks (when I still wrote checks---now I pay everything online) and the occasional permission slip for my kids back in the
  10. VivaLasViejas

    Can a diagnosis of a mental illness potentially harm your chances of getting a job?

    VivaLasViejas replied to BlackBettyRN,OCN's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    What you have here are nothing but suspicions, therefore there is nothing to disclose. That's the good news. The bad news is, you really shouldn't attempt to diagnose yourself. It's amazing how wrong...
  11. VivaLasViejas

    bipolar v borderline

    VivaLasViejas replied to rayea's topic in Psychiatric

    Yep---it came to me right after a horrendous mixed mood episode a few months
  12. VivaLasViejas

    bipolar v borderline

    VivaLasViejas replied to rayea's topic in Psychiatric

    I don't know if this post will be useful so long after your OP, but a couple of features of borderline PD are an overwhelming feeling of emptiness and exaggerated fears of being abandoned. These are...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    Senior Nursing Student: DUI

    VivaLasViejas replied to gmolina0703's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    The people best suited to advise you would, of course, be your state Board of Nursing. We cannot advise you, because each individual case and each state is different. You should be aware, however,...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    Do you ever regret leaving acute care?

    VivaLasViejas replied to sunnyskies9's topic in General Nursing

    I walked away from acute care almost 8 years ago thanks to a nervous breakdown, and haven't regretted leaving for an instant. I only wish I hadn't had to go through the breakdown to realize that I...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Playing With Fire: Seeing "Noncompliance" In A New Light

    VivaLasViejas replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Patient Medications

    As I was leaving the pharmacy today with my $165/mo. Geodon capsules (which unfortunately for my wallet, have turned out to be the magic glue that holds Viva together), I got to thinking about this...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    nursing school bullying

    VivaLasViejas replied to greatestsummerever's topic in General Students

    Regardless of how it started or why it's happening, I don't believe this passive-aggressive behavior on the part of the male student rises to the level of bullying. Many of us nurses have seen...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    decreasing psychotropics in the elderly

    VivaLasViejas replied to motherof3sons's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It's not just the feds that are making our lives hell in LTC. Evidence has come to light showing that elderly patients taking atypical antipsychotics for dementia-related behaviors are at a higher...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    Will my criminal record keep me from getting licensed

    VivaLasViejas replied to Steener83's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    I'd say you've had more than a "little trouble with the law". It's all minor offenses, to be sure, but when you look at it objectively, it adds up to a pattern of legal and financial irresponsibility...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    nursing school bullying

    VivaLasViejas replied to greatestsummerever's topic in General Students

    You've been given some excellent advice, but you keep reiterating the same complaint with no evidence that you've tried any of the suggestions that have been offered. Please try some of them and let...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    SNF nurse going into acute care with anxiety

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

    Congratulations on your new position! It's natural to have some new-job jitters, but if it's more than that, you really need to have another chat with your doctor as we cannot offer you medical advice...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Marijuana and Nursing School

    VivaLasViejas replied to heather19's topic in General Students

    FWIW: I personally would rather see people smoke pot than drink alcohol. And if I could, I'd still be doing it myself because I enjoyed smoking pot. It relaxed me and knocked down a lot of the anger I...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    combative residents and family. (kinda long)

    VivaLasViejas replied to fairyluv's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I feel for you, OP. And what's sad is, this stuff happens every day. About a dozen years ago, I was an ADON for a mid-size LTC where we had an A & O resident who just beat the crap out of anybody...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Can they force me to work weekends during jury duty???

    VivaLasViejas replied to luv2dive's topic in General Nursing

    Please let me clear up any misunderstanding as to my response to the OP. I fear I may have given an inaccurate impression of my true feelings on this matter. First of all, I approached the topic as I...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    How do you cheer yourself after a bad day at work?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    Turn on the computer so I can come vent on
  25. VivaLasViejas

    LTC: 3 Strikes I'm OUT???

    VivaLasViejas replied to mejajo02's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    I worked nights in a SNF for a couple of years, and I ran my bohunkus off the entire time, even though I had excellent staffing (6 CNAs and a CMA for 90 patients/residents) and the acuity wasn't as...