Library News - LibGuides at Nova Scotia Health

Nova Scotia Health Library Services provides staff and physicians across our organization with education and supports to effectively discover and use health information. We can help you stay current by keeping you aware of new and relevant resources, and by teaching you efficient and practical information skills that meet your evolving needs.

In support of our organization-wide mandate, we continue to expand our digital service model, being conscious of our geographical reach in supporting research, education and learning needs of health care providers. In this time of health transformation and to better support our mandate, the changes outlined below have been implemented or are in progress.

Library Spaces

April 1, 2023: Partnered with Virtual Care Nova Scotia and the Yarmouth community at the Watson Caie Amirault Learning Centre
Starting July 1, 2023: Library Services is decommissioning the following three library sites to support Interprofessional Practice & Learning training needs as part of their health transformation strategy:
- Cape Breton Regional Hospital
- Aberdeen Hospital
- QEII - Dickson Building
September 2023: Refreshing of the Yarmouth Watson Caie Amirault Learning Centre is scheduled to be finalized

Please note that all Library Services team members remain fully available to assist you either remotely or in-person at the remaining library sites.

Library Operations: 2022-2023 Milestones

Partnered with Interprofessional Practice & Learning to introduce Dynamic Health into clinical practice
Implemented TDNet Discover to improve your library search experience
Improved document delivery by beginning to consolidate our physical collections
Welcomed our Innovation partners into our training and education calendar
Created an easier way for you to reach our Copyright and Permissions team for support
Supported clinical leaders and health care providers in the production of Health Care Topics subject guides
Supported clinical leaders and our patients in the production of patient education materials
Coordination and management of the COVID-19 Hub

The Library Services Team looks forward to continuing to serve the needs of Nova Scotia Health staff throughout the province. We will continue to update you on our services, spaces, and successes. If you have any questions or concerns about this update, please send an email to AskLibrary@nshealth.ca.

Library Staff

Nova Scotia Health Library Services

Recent Posts

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy October 2025 Digest: Care Directives, Clinical Practice Support Subject Guides, Dynamic Health - New and Updated, CVAA Guidelines and Updated CVAD Competencies, Stop the Flu! and RSV Immunization

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy digest posts summarize updates over the past month about:Clinical Policies, Care Directives, Guidelines and Learning ModulesGet the latest clinically relevant, local guidance published through policies, care directives, guidelines and/or learning modules.Identify competencies relevant to you/your team’s practice.Dynamic Health (DH)Stay informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health, including recent updates to Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject GuidesLearn about recently published and updated CPS subject guides, where you/your team can find relevant resources across DH, policies, care directives, guidelines, and learning modules. CPS subject guides also include Key Practice Points and additional educational and guidance resources to support implementation and competency maintenance.Original posts on the above topics can be accessed by Nova Scotia Health employees through The Compass > Clinical Resources News.Care Directives, Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject Guides – New and UpdatedUPDATED CARE DIRECTIVE:CD-PH-010 - Immunization AdministrationMinor Revision: Revised term “vaccine” to “immunizing agents”; Added reporting pathway to CVP for new product.NEW CPS Subject Guides:Estimated Date of Discharge (EDD)The Estimated Date of Discharge (EDD) is the date when a patient is anticipated to be discharged from the current facility, based on clinical judgement of the care team. This guide supports establishing and documenting EDD, as well as accessing EDD data for decision making.Working with Patients and Substitute Decisions-Makers (SDMs)Developed by Ethics Nova Scotia Health in conjunction with Legal Services, Working with Patients and Substitute Decisions-Makers (SDMs) outlines, organizes and answers questions frequently asked on this topic for health care staff.UPDATED CPS Subject Guides:Fall and Injury ReductionFrailty and Elder Care NetworkNew Nurse Mentorship ProgramNursing Orientation Program – Central ZoneNursing Skills and ProceduresPalliative CareConversations about Serious IllnessGoals of CareParamedic Skills and ProceduresRespiratory Therapy Skills and ProceduresDynamic Health UpdatesNew Workplace Notes and Reviewed SkillsNew Workplace Notes have been created for a range of skills, including but not limited to: Lipid Emulsion Therapy, Parenteral Nutrition, Minimal Occlusive Volume Monitoring.View the full list of New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills for October 2025.Revised Workplace NotesWorkplace Notes about a range of skills that have been revised, including but not limited to: Parenteral Nutrition, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.View the list of Revised Workplace Notes for October 2025.Custom Workplace Skills - NEWMonitoring Tracheostomy Tube Pressure Using Minimal Occlusive Volume (MOV)2024 CVAA Guidelines and CVAD Competency Updates for NursingIn preparation for the forthcoming updates to Nova Scotia Health's Central Venous Access Device-related policies, IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy have updated competencies and skills regarding CVAD for Nursing to align with the 2024 Canadian Vascular Access Association (CVAA) Guidelines.Make sure to check out our comparison of Previous Practice versus CVAA-informed Practice, and review the updated competency requirements in our post on The Compass > Clinical Resources News.Stop the Flu! And RSV ImmunizationVisit the Stop the Flu! section of the ERIN Hub to find out where you, as a Nova Scotia Health employee, can take part as a Flu Champion, and receive and document your vaccine.You’ll also find resources to support Flu Champions, related policies and care directives, flu clinic schedules for Nova Scotia Health staff, product monographs, and other communications tools.Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunizations for eligible infants and adults are now included as part of the publicly funded immunization program.Guidance is outlined and maintained on the ERIN Hub > RSV, in key resources such as:Nova Scotia Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infant Immunization Program – Information for Health Care ProfessionalsNova Scotia Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Adult Immunization Program – Information for Health Care ProfessionalsNova Scotia Health Vaccine Consult Service: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunization Agents FAQPlease refer to these, and other supporting resources, along with the associated policy and care directive, available on the Immunizer Education Clinical Practice Support subject guide > Care Directives and Policies.Review the full memo from IPPL on the Compass > Clinical Resources News.Get in Touch!Connect with Clinical Policy and Practice about this content update and opportunities to collaborate by emailing AskIPPL@nshealth.ca.Find guidance about using Dynamic Health, setting up a personal account, exporting CE (Continuing Education) Credits, and more in the Dynamic Health Support guide.IPPL Clinical Practice and PolicyAskIPPL@nshealth.ca...

Has your team ever been asked for permission to reproduce or adapt your content? Do you want to ensure proper credit is given when your work is shared?Creative Commons (CC) licensing could be the solution.Creative Commons is a global, nonprofit system that offers open licences for creative works. There are six types of CC licences, each allowing different levels of sharing, copying, and adaptation. All licences require attribution to the original creator.Nova Scotia Health teams now have the option to assign Creative Commons licences to their work!This change follows the example set by the Nova Scotia Health Policy Office, which publishes new policies under a CC licence, and is inspired by Alberta Health Services which has successfully used CC licensing for several years.To retain control over how your content is used, we recommend choosing one of the two most restrictive CC licences:CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike)Allows others to reuse or adapt your work for noncommercial purposes providing they credit you and share any changes under the same license.CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives)Allows others to share your work for noncommercial purposes with proper credit, but no changes or adaptations are allowed.Want to learn more?Visit the Creative Commons subject guide for information on:Why choose Creative Commons? Learn how it can increase collaboration and extend the impact of Nova Scotia Health’s work locally, nationally, and globally.Considerations before assigning CC licences, including the need for leadership approval.How to select the right CC licence for your content.Licensing Statements/Disclaimers, approved by Nova Scotia Health Legal Services.Support Tools, including a customizable licence tracking spreadsheet, infographics, templates for Word and PowerPoint, and a helpful FAQ section.Ready to get started or have questions?Email us at copyright@nshealth.caBook a one-on-one consultationRequest a Custom Education Session for your teamRoxanne MacMillanLibrarian EducatorHalifax Infirmary, Central ZoneRelated postsCopyright Corner: Understanding Creative Commons LicensesCopyright Corner: From the Copyright mailbox: Getty Images + Creative Commons#main-alert { background-color:#ffffff; border-left: 10px solid; } ...

Patient Education Pamphlets created, updated, or archived in September 2025

Writing in plain language matters. In Canada, it’s reported that nine million people have limited literacy skills, with over half of Canadians reading below a high school level. This is just one of the reasons why it is important to offer additional support to patients and families with easy-to-read, straightforward patient pamphlets. For more information about creating or updating patient pamphlets, please visit the Patient Education Resources Toolkit. Contact Pamphlets@nshealth.ca with any questions. You can search for pamphlets by title or keyword in the pamphlets catalogue, or view the complete listing of active titles in our Print Code Index.The following pamphlets were updated or created in September 2025. Arabic TranslationsAR85-2401 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring [Arabic] (English: WG85-2073, En français: FF85-2389)AR85-2256 How to Self-Prone with a Lung Injury [Arabic] (English: WC85-2251, En français: FF85-2255) Previous title: How to Self-Prone: Instructions for COVID-19 Patients and CaregiversAR85-2225 Guidelines After General Surgery [Arabic] (English: WO85-2223, En français: FF85-2224)Skin Care WR85-2310 Guidelines After a Minor Procedure - Dermatology ClinicWR85-2524 NEW Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)WR85-2525 NEW Liquid Nitrogen (Cryotherapy)WR85-2526 NEW Efudex® (5% Fluorouracil Cream) for Actinic KeratosisCardiovascular System WG85-0393 Before and After Your Cardioversion - Halifax Infirmary (En français: FF85-1726)WG85-1296 Angioplasty of the Leg (Balloon Procedure) (En français: FF85-1791) Previous title: Angioplasty of the Legs (Balloon Procedure)WG85-2523 NEW Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease - Changes in Your Mental HealthWG85-2530 NEW Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)Chinese (Simplified) TranslationsCH85-2527 NEW Over-the-Counter Medications and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) [Simplified Chinese] (English: WQ85-1636)Diagnostic Imaging WN85-0001 Angiogram - Halifax Infirmary Victoria General Previous title: AngiogramWN85-0229 FistulogramDigestive System WI85-1555 Hepatic EncephalopathyFrench Translations (en français)FF85-2195 Don de cornées - Service de soins palliatifs (English: WD85-1150) Previous title: Faire un don de vie - Don de cornées - Service des soins palliatifsFF85-2099 Amygdalectomie et adénoïdectomie (English: WV85-0284)FF85-1966 Surveillance de la glycémie chez les nouveaux-nés (English: WP85-1934) Previous title: Surveillance de la glycémie chez les nouveau-nésFF85-2105 Services de physiothérapie en Nouvelle‑Écosse (English: WB85-1438)FF85-1783 Injection de Botox® (English: WW85-0282)FF85-2166 Conseils de sécurité pour les enfants hospitalisés (English: WX85-2118) Previous title: Conseils pour la sécurité des patients – Services de pédiatrieFF85-2190 Virus Coxsackie (maladie mains-pieds-bouche et herpangine) (English: WA85-2127)FF85-2188 Soins continus - Information importante (English: WX85-2120)FF85-2191 Croup (diphtérie laryngienne) (English: WA85-2128)FF85-2522 NEW Analyse d’urine après une opération (English: WJ85-2501)Gynecology & Reproductive HealthWP85-2314 Welcome to the Women and Children's Unit - Cumberland Regional Health Care CentreWP85-2520 NEW Thyroid Disorders During PregnancyHospital InformationWX85-1542 Lowering Your Chance of Getting a Blood Clot While in the Hospital (En français: FF85-1545) Previous title: Preventing Blood Clots While in the HospitalWX85-2528 NEW Mi’kmaw Indigenous Patient Navigator (MIPN) - Western ZoneMental Health & AddictionsWM85-2296 When should I be worried about my relationship with food and exercise?WM85-2529 NEW Family and Support Person Education Program - Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program (NSEPP)Musculoskeletal SystemWE85-1582 Pressure Injury (Ulcer) Prevention (En français: FF85-1795)NephrologyWQ85-1475 Bowel Preparation for Chronic Kidney Disease Before ColonoscopyWQ85-0397 FistuloplastyNervous SystemWL85-2302 Sexual Health After a Spinal Cord Injury Previous title: Sexual Health After Spinal Cord InjuryPhysiotherapy & RehabilitationWB85-1299 Liver Transplant Physiotherapy Program (En français: FF85-1839)WB85-1597 General Leg Exercise Program (En français: FF85-2085)Surgery WO85-2521 NEW Before and After Day Surgery The following pamphlets were archived in September 2025:NSCCP-1686 Male Breast CancerWQ85-2283 Fistulogram - Cape Breton Regional HospitalWQ85-2284 Fistuloplasty - Cape Breton Regional Hospital If a pamphlet that has been archived is still needed, please let us know as soon as possible and we will work with you to make it available again. Kendell FitzgeraldLibrarian EducatorCentral Zone...

Tools to help patient teaching and understanding

In healthcare, it is important to remember that our patients may not understand the information or teaching we share with them. You can help to improve understanding by communicating clearly. This helps everyone — not just those who may struggle to understand health information.There are numerous guides and resources available to help clinical teams support patient and care partner learning. From these, we’ve made a list of communication tools that can best help you strengthen your ‘at the bedside’ teaching just in time for health literacy month this October!Communication ToolsLearn about why it’s important for clinical teams to consider the language they use and its impact on advancing health equity.Resource: Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative and ConceptsAuthors: American Medical Association, AAMC Center for Health JusticeLink: https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/ama-aamc-equity-guide.pdf Learn how to use gender inclusive language with new clients in a clinical setting.Resource: Gender Inclusive Language – Clinical settings with new clientsAuthors: Trans Care BCLink: https://www.transcarebc.ca/sites/default/files/2024-03/Gender_Inclusive_Language_Clinical.pdf Learn about gender inclusive language in any setting.Resource: Inclusive and Affirming Language TipsAuthors: Egale CanadaLink: https://egale.ca/awareness/affirming-and-inclusive-language/ Watch a short 2-minute video about medical jargon and how to communicate effectively and simply.Resource: Keep It Simple for Safety - Don't Use JargonAuthors: University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBZjpy3ibs&t Read a short, straightforward guide to help improve written communication intended for patients and care partners.Resource: Guidelines for Effective WritingAuthors: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesLink: https://www.cms.gov/training-education/learn/find-tools-to-help-you-help-others/guidelines-for-effective-writing Learn how to easily sharpen your health literacy skill set with these strategies.Resource: Easy ways to build health literacy into your daily routinesAuthors: Library ServicesLink: https://library.nshealth.ca/blogs/Home/News/Easy-ways-to-build-health-literacy-into-your-daily-routines This free, 20-minute, online learning module can help you learn to identify and use key elements of teach-back and plain language to promote health equity, safety, and quality, and advance organizational health literacy.Resource: Always Use Teach-back! Interactive Learning ModuleAuthors: Abrams MA, Nielsen GA, Wilson A. Always Use Teach-back! Toolkit. 2024. https://teachbacktraining.orgLink: https://teachbacktraining.org/teach-back-interactive-learning-module/ Use tips from this resource to optimize care and improve provider-patient communication with older patients.Resource: Talking With Your Older PatientsAuthors: National Institute on AgingLink: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/health-care-professionals-information/talking-your-older-patients Bookmark this list of plain language substitutes and easy explanations to use in your conversations or written content. Resource: Plain Language ReplacementsAuthors: Library Services’ Patient Education TeamLink: https://library.nshealth.ca/ld.php?content_id=37381737 When patients, families, and support persons understand the information being shared with them, they can make more informed and meaningful decisions about their care and treatment, in collaboration with their healthcare team.Gear up for health literacy month this October by sharing this resource list with your colleagues or team today!Learn more about Health Literacy in the Content Creator Toolkit: https://library.nshealth.ca/Patient-Education-Resources/Health-LiteracyKallen RutledgeLibrarian Educator, Patient Education Pamphlets LeadNova Scotia Hospital, Central ZoneRelated postsEasy ways to build health literacy into your daily routines#main-alert { background-color:#ffffff; border-left: 10px solid; } ...

Library Services: Update on mandate, spaces and 2022-23 milestones

Library Spaces

Library Operations: 2022-2023 Milestones

Library Staff