Library News - LibGuides at Nova Scotia Health

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy digest posts summarize updates over the past month about:

Clinical Policies, Care Directives, Guidelines and Learning Modules
- Get the latest clinically relevant, local guidance published through policies, care directives, guidelines and/or learning modules.
- Identify competencies relevant to your/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 Guides
- Learn 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.

Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject Guides & Policies – Updates

The following CPS subject guides have been updated with new content in the past month:

In consultation with Clinical Nurse Educators (CNEs) in relevant care areas, and with the approval of Critical Care leadership, CL-SP-005 Intra-abdominal Pressure Monitoring has been archived by the Nova Scotia Health Policy Office. CL-SP-005 Intra-abdominal Pressure Monitoring is replaced by the two Dynamic Health skills below, and their corresponding Workplace Notes:

Dynamic Health Updates

New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills
- New notes have been created for a range of skills, including but not limited to: Arterial Catheters, Bedside Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy, CPAP, BiPAP, Falls Risk, Mechanical Ventilation, Minimally Invasive Pulse Wave Analysis, Spontaneous Awakening Trial.
- View the full list of New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills as of November 2025.
Revised Workplace Notes
- Workplace Notes about a range of skills have been revised, including but not limited to: Administering Labetalol, Platelets, Changing Burn Dressings, Falls Prevention Plans, Pressure Injury Prevention and Treatment, Liquid Nitrogen for Cryosurgery, Patency for Central Venous Catheter with Complete Thrombotic Occlusion.
- View the list of Revised Workplace Notes as of November 2025.
Custom Workplace Skills – NEW and UPDATED
- Administering Allergy Patch Testing in Adults and Pediatrics
- Monitoring Tracheostomy Tube Pressure Using Minimal Occlusive Volume (MOV)

Dynamic Health Customizations (Reviews and Custom Skills) Maintenance Schedule

It’s hard to believe, but it has been three years since we published a series of Workplace Notes as a result of our first Dynamic Health skills review!

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy is committed to revisiting Workplace Notes and Custom Skills every three years, or as current evidence and practice evolves, to keep our collection current.

If you provided a skill review or contributed to the creation of a Custom Workplace Skill in 2023, watch your inbox! Starting November 18, we will be emailing you to update your review or custom skill. If you have moved on or changed roles, please fill out the form link provided in the email and add a colleague who would be best to either take on the skill or point us in the direction of a new reviewer. Please have your responses submitted by January 18, 2026. Thank you for your continued support!

Salem Sump Tubes - Proper Use of Anti-Reflux Valve (ARV)

Cardinal Health has issued product guidance on safe use of the Anti-Reflux Valve (ARV) for Salem Sump tubes.

Review the full update for guidance 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 Policy

AskIPPL@nshealth.ca

Recent Posts

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy November 2025 Digest: Clinical Practice Support Subject Guides, Policy and Procedures – Updates + Dynamic Health - New and Updated + Dynamic Health Customizations Maintenance Schedule + Salem Sump Tubes - Proper Use

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 your/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.Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject Guides & Policies – UpdatesThe following CPS subject guides have been updated with new content in the past month:Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS)Blood Product Administration - Transfusion MedicineCare of the Patient After DeathContinuing CareDiagnostic Imaging (DI) ProfessionalsDrug Evaluation Unit (DEU)Elder Care In HospitalEthics Nova Scotia HealthFrailty and Elder Care NetworkHarm ReductionHome FirstInfection Prevention and Control: Long-term Care and Home CareInformed ChoiceNew Nurse Mentorship ProgramNEWS2 Early Warning ScoreOccupational Health and Safety: Continuing CarePrimary Health Care - Skills and ProceduresRespiratory Therapy Skills and ProceduresResuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI)In consultation with Clinical Nurse Educators (CNEs) in relevant care areas, and with the approval of Critical Care leadership, CL-SP-005 Intra-abdominal Pressure Monitoring has been archived by the Nova Scotia Health Policy Office. CL-SP-005 Intra-abdominal Pressure Monitoring is replaced by the two Dynamic Health skills below, and their corresponding Workplace Notes:Measuring Intra-Abdominal PressurePreventing and Managing Intra-Abdominal Hypertension in AdultsDynamic Health UpdatesNew Workplace Notes and Reviewed SkillsNew notes have been created for a range of skills, including but not limited to: Arterial Catheters, Bedside Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy, CPAP, BiPAP, Falls Risk, Mechanical Ventilation, Minimally Invasive Pulse Wave Analysis, Spontaneous Awakening Trial.View the full list of New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills as of November 2025.Revised Workplace NotesWorkplace Notes about a range of skills have been revised, including but not limited to: Administering Labetalol, Platelets, Changing Burn Dressings, Falls Prevention Plans, Pressure Injury Prevention and Treatment, Liquid Nitrogen for Cryosurgery, Patency for Central Venous Catheter with Complete Thrombotic Occlusion.View the list of Revised Workplace Notes as of November 2025.Custom Workplace Skills – NEW and UPDATEDAdministering Allergy Patch Testing in Adults and PediatricsMonitoring Tracheostomy Tube Pressure Using Minimal Occlusive Volume (MOV)Dynamic Health Customizations (Reviews and Custom Skills) Maintenance ScheduleIt’s hard to believe, but it has been three years since we published a series of Workplace Notes as a result of our first Dynamic Health skills review!IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy is committed to revisiting Workplace Notes and Custom Skills every three years, or as current evidence and practice evolves, to keep our collection current.If you provided a skill review or contributed to the creation of a Custom Workplace Skill in 2023, watch your inbox! Starting November 18, we will be emailing you to update your review or custom skill. If you have moved on or changed roles, please fill out the form link provided in the email and add a colleague who would be best to either take on the skill or point us in the direction of a new reviewer. Please have your responses submitted by January 18, 2026. Thank you for your continued support!Salem Sump Tubes - Proper Use of Anti-Reflux Valve (ARV)Cardinal Health has issued product guidance on safe use of the Anti-Reflux Valve (ARV) for Salem Sump tubes.Review the full update for guidance 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...

Not all research is conducted equally: Using critical appraisal checklists to verify study quality

UPDATED: November 17, 2025. Original Post: July 20, 2020Integrating the best available health evidence into decision-making processes is an important part of evidence-based practice. However, before applying clinical research findings to patient care, health care providers must determine whether the research findings are valid.It is important to remember that published studies are not necessarily trustworthy. Healthcare research must be evaluated before being used to guide clinical decisions. Critical appraisal provides a framework for this evaluation.What is critical appraisal?Critical appraisal is “the process of carefully and systematically examining research to judge its trustworthiness, and its value and relevance in a particular context.” (CASP)To critically appraise clinical research is to look at its methodological quality, trustworthiness, and applicability to a patient’s specific situation. Critical appraisal helps us ask two essential questions about a particular research study (Sala Serra & Domingo Torrell, 2022):Are the results believable and free of bias or errors? (internal validity)Do the results apply to populations other than the sample participants, specifically to my patient’s situation? (external validity)When should critical appraisal be conducted?Research should always be critically appraised, no matter its intended use. Such uses may include:Patient care in a clinical settingOrganizational policies or guidelinesCare directivesEducational projectsFor example, if a recently published study in your discipline suggests a therapy is effective and safe for patients, critically appraising the study ensures the findings are valid and unbiased, and the therapy is appropriate for the specific needs of your patient.Beyond clinical scenarios, critical appraisal is also a key part of evidence synthesis. As part of the systematic review process, for example, articles included in the review are critically appraised for validity. This ensures that the integrity of the overall review is not impacted by the quality of the individual studies included.Using critical appraisal checklistsAny type of clinical study can be critically appraised, and each study type has its own checklist. Critical appraisal checklists provide a step-by-step guide through the appraisal process. There are many critical appraisal tools available from organizations that are experts in evidence-based research evaluation, including:JBI (formerly Joanna Briggs Institute): Critical Appraisal ToolsCentre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM): Critical Appraisal ToolsCritical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP): Critical Appraisal ChecklistsScottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN): Critical Appraisal Notes and ChecklistsCritically Appraising for Antiracism Tool (Naicker, R. 2023)For example, CASP’s Randomised Controlled Trial Checklist includes questions about study methodology such as:Was the assignment of participants to interventions randomised?Were the investigators ‘blind’ to the intervention they were giving to participants?Do the benefits of the experimental intervention outweigh the harms and costs?Would the experimental intervention provide greater value to the people in your care than any of the existing interventions?Critical appraisal for antiracism is rarely addressed in standard tools. To avoid overlooking underrepresented patient populations, consider supplementing your chosen tool with Naicker’s Critically Appraising for Antiracism Tool.Critical appraisal can be conducted without the use of a formal checklist, but using an established set of appraisal criteria may be helpful if you want to ensure that you are consistent in how you appraise clinical research.For more info on critical appraisal in your daily work or a larger project, email AskLibrary@nshealth.ca or book a one-on-one consultation with a librarian.Additional SupportIn-depth Resources in Library Services' Searching subject guide.References1. CASP - Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. (2025, October 15). What is critical appraisal?. https://casp-uk.net/what-is-critical-appraisal/2. Naicker, R. (2022). Critically appraising for antiracism. Education for Information, 38(4), 291–308. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2200523. Sala Serra, M., & Domingo Torrell, L. (2022). Validity of a study: Internal and external validity. Cirugia espanola, 100(10), 649–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cireng.2021.12.007Selena MacDonaldLibrarian EducatorNova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone...

Patient Education Pamphlets Archiving Project 2026

Every year, the Patient Education Team identifies patient pamphlets that have not been reviewed or updated within 5 years of the last review date. We then contact content creators to confirm whether these pamphlets need to be updated or removed from circulation.Routine archiving of out-of-date pamphlets is done in accordance with policy AD-LIB-001 Patient Education Materials: Development and Maintenance, which helps ensure Nova Scotia Health patients, families and essential care partners receive up-to-date patient education materials.This year, any pamphlets published in 2020 or before must be reviewed and updated or they will be removed from circulation on January 31, 2026.The full list of items that must be reviewed and updated before January 31, 2025 can be found in the Pamphlets Due for Revision Dashboard.As you know, changes to drug names, clinic or department contact information, and clinical practice are common. Patient pamphlets must be reviewed by the teams that created them, and/or the teams that use them, to ensure that such changes are reflected in the materials we provide to patients. This helps ensure misinformation and outdated directives are removed to help keep patients and care partners safe.Library Services' Patient Education Team is available to support Nova Scotia Health staff in updating any existing pamphlets. Pamphlets published in 2020 or before that have not been reviewed and updated by January 31, 2026 will be archived and removed from the patient education resources collection.To ensure your pamphlet remains available, please contact the Patient Education Team as soon as possible so that an update can be initiated and completed by January 31st, 2026.What do you need to do?Check the list of titles that are due for review.Complete the Archiving Project form to let us know you intend to update a pamphlet or to recommend it be archived.Complete the Archiving Project form to recommend a pamphlet for archiving.Share this information with your colleagues who are involved in patient education pamphlets in your area, department, unit, or clinic.How can the Patient Education Team help?We can send you the latest version of the pamphlet as a Word document, so you can edit it easily. We facilitate the review and update process for you, including:Integrating your team’s edits and feedbackReviewing for plain language and readabilityCoordinating adaptation and reprint copyright permission requestsEnsuring improved accessibility and consistent messaging in line with other Nova Scotia Health materialsUpdating layout and brandingGet started on your pamphlet review project by completing the Archiving Project form to connect with the Patient Education Team.For guidance and resources on how to update or archive a pamphlet, refer to the Patient Pamphlets section of the Library’s Content Creator Toolkit.Questions? Reach out to the Patient Education Team at Pamphlets@nshealth.ca.Kallen RutledgeLibrarian Educator, Patient Education Pamphlets LeadNova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone...

Patient Education Pamphlets created, updated, or archived in October 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 October 2025. Cardiovascular System WG85-0175 Peripheral Bypass SurgeryWG85-2530 Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)French Translations (en français)FF85-1718 Greffe de cornée (English: WW85-0136) Previous title: Greffe de cornée (kératoplastie)FF85-2162 Décollement postérieur du vitré (DPV) (English: WW85-1761)FF85-1790 Écrire à la famille de votre donneur ou donneuse (English: WX85-1212)Gynecology & Reproductive HealthWP85-2535 NEW High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy - Cape Breton Regional HospitalHospital InformationWX85-1212 Writing to Your Donor's Family (En français: FF85-1790)WX85-1213 Writing to Transplant Recipients and Their FamiliesIntensive Care UnitIC85-0133 Ventricular DrainIC85-2532 NEW Care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) - Yarmouth Regional HospitalMental Health & AddictionsWM85-2274 Forensic Mental Health Community Program Previous title: East Coast Forensic Hospital: Community Client ProgramWM85-2531 NEW Mental Health and Addictions: 6 Lane Unit - Abbie J. Lane Memorial Building, QE IINephrologyWQ85-2272 Writing to Your Anonymous Living Kidney DonorWQ85-2273 Writing to Your Anonymous Kidney Transplant RecipientNutrition & FoodLC85-2035 Need Help Filling Your Belly or Cupboards? Yarmouth Food SupportsPalliative CareWD85-2516 NEW Let's Talk About GriefWD85-2517 NEW Coping with Grief and Trauma: When Tragedy Turns Life Upside DownRespiratory SystemWF85-2533 NEW Respiratory Health ClassWF85-2534 NEW Pneumonia - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)Urogenital SystemWJ85-2510 Mid-stream Urine Collection - Valley Regional Hospital and Yarmouth Regional HospitalThe following pamphlets were archived in October 2025:FF85-2064 Conseils pour une alimentation riche en fibres (English: LC85-0556)FF85-2081 Légumineuses faciles d’emploi : préparer des lentilles, haricots et pois secs (English: LC85-0565)FF85-2087 Calculs biliaires (English: WA85-1543)WA85-1543 Gallstones (En français: FF85-2087)DG85-2051 Discharge Instructions After Your Nerve Block: Dartmouth General HospitalIf 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...