Library News

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 Content Creator Toolkit. Please 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 2024. 

Cardiovascular System 
WG85-1480 Delirium After Cardiac Surgery (En français: FF85-2107)
WG85-1574 Preparing Your Skin Before Open Heart Surgery (En français: FF85-1902)
WG85-0006 Telemetry (En français: FF85-1893)
WG85-1843 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)
                    Previous title: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implant (TAVI)
WG85-0206 Sclerotherapy Discharge Instructions
                    Previous title: Sclerotherapy Discharge Instructions - Dr. MacKean

Chinese (Simplified) Translations
CH85-2438 NEW Flexible Sigmoidoscopy - VG Site (English: WI85-0188, En français: FF85-1505, Arabic: AR85-1478)
CH85-2439 NEW Bronchoscopy (English: WF85-0712)
CH85-2448 NEW ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-pancreatography) - VG Site [Simplified Chinese] (English: WI85-0038, En français: FF85-1503, Arabic: AR85-1476)
CH85-2449 NEW Capsule Endoscopy - VG Site [Simplified Chinese] (English: WI85-1300, En français: FF85-1854)

French Translations (en français)
FF85-1666 Unités de soins intensifs 3A et 5.2 : Renseignements à l’intention des familles (English: IC85-1593)
FF85-1504 Gastroscopie : Site du VG (English: WI85-0040)

Geriatrics 
WT85-1617 Geriatric Medicine Clinic
                    Previous title: Geriatric Ambulatory Care Clinic

Gynecology & Reproductive Health
WP85-1584 Discharge from the Colposcopy Clinic
                    Previous title: Discharge from Colposcopy Clinic
WP85-1509 After Your Procedure - Reproductive Options and Services (ROSE) Clinic (En français: FF85-2109)
                    Previous title: After Your Procedure
WP85-1832 Procedural Abortion (En français: FF85-1862)
WP85-1039 Internal and External Condoms
WP85-1831 Medical Abortion (En français: FF85-1861)
WP85-1987 Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy, and Repair of the Vagina: Discharge Instructions - Valley Regional Hospital
                    Previous title: Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy, and Repair of Vagina (Anterior and Posterior): Discharge Instructions
WP85-0699 Tubal Ligation

Hematology
WH85-1396 Perioperative Blood Management (PBM) Program (French: FF85-2082)
                    Previous title: Perioperative Blood Management Service (PBMS)
WH85-0260 Autologous Stem Cell Transplant - Victoria General (VG) Site, QE II
                    Previous title: Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
WH85-2447 Stem Cell Collection - Victoria General (VG) Site, QE II

Hospitals
WX85-2440 NEW Immobility, Falls, and the Dignity of Risk

Laboratory Pathology
QY85-1635 Standing Orders
QY85-1940 24-Hour Urine Collection: Split Daytime and Nighttime - Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Halifax Area

Medications
QV85-1876 Iron Infusion Therapy - Yarmouth Regional Hospital
                    Previous title: Venofer® Iron Sucrose Injection
QV85-2436 NEW Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Mental Health & Addictions
WM85-2442 NEW Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR)
WM85-2443 NEW Assessment for Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents
WM85-2444 NEW Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) - Cape Breton Regional Hospital (CBRH)

Nephrology
WQ85-2441 NEW Cannabis and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Oral Health
WU85-1083 Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery - Victoria General (VG) Site
                    Previous title: Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery

Palliative Care
WD85-2450 NEW Understanding the Last Weeks, Days, and Hours of Life

Respiratory System
WF85-2445 NEW Supporting People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The following pamphlets were archived in October 2024:

• WN85-1497 Bone Density Scan
• WJ85-1935 Heparin Bladder Instillation
• WJ85-2037 Suprapubic Catheter
• WT85-2207 VISIT Program - Vitals, Interview, Safety, Inspection, and Treatment
• NSCCP-0010 Cancer Treatments: Systemic Therapy
• WP85-1878 Medical Abortion (Mifegymiso) Instructions (En français: FF85-1886)
• FF85-1886 Directives pour un avortement par médicaments (Mifegymiso) (English: WP85-1878)
• WC85-2170 COVID-19 Toolkit - Family/Essential Care Partner(s) and Family Caregivers (En français: FF85-2171)
• FF85-2171 Trousse d’information sur la COVID-19 – Famille, partenaires de soins essentiel·le·s et proches aidant·e·s (English: WC85-2170)
• WC85-2172 COVID-19 Toolkit - Designated Caregivers in Long-term Care

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 Fitzgerald

Librarian Educator
Central Zone

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health, highlight any new priority projects and events, and updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills. We’ll also highlight new publications we’re supporting and maintaining including policies, clinical practice support guides, clinical resources on the intranet and clinical learning modules.

Dynamic Health Updates

We receive feedback submissions on an ongoing basis through the Suggest an Edit form and through partnerships with departments and teams. This month, the following customizations have been added:

New Workplace Note

• Administering Intradermal Allergy Skin Testing
• Performing Point-of-Care Blood Glucose Testing

Revised Workplace Note

• Administering COVID-19 Vaccine
• Administering Parenteral Nutrition
• Administering Parenteral Nutrition via Central Venous Access
• Administering Parenteral Nutrition via Peripheral Venous Access
• Assisting With Paracentesis
• Managing Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions
• Managing Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO) in Adults
• Performing a 12-Lead Electrocardiogram in Pediatric Patients
• Providing Fluid Resuscitation or Massive Transfusion Using a Rapid Infusion Device
• Vaccinating Adults
• Vaccinating Children
• Vaccinating Infants

Reviewed: No Workplace Note

• Managing Dyspnea in Patients With Cancer

New Look: Workplace Notes

We are now able to use a bit more style when laying out our workplace notes in Dynamic Health, thanks to a recent system update! We can now add headers, bullets and bolding more easily. We can also embed links within the text of workplace notes.

If a suite of skills is connected to a Clinical Practice Support guide, the note may look like this:

• Administering Parenteral Nutrition via Central Venous Access

If a skill is standalone and unconnected to a Clinical Practice Support guide, the note may look like this:

• Providing Emergency Care to Patients With Sepsis

There will continue to be diversity of layout of notes, but this style will be applied to all new and updated content moving forward. If you have any feedback, questions, etc., reach out to DynamicHealth@nshealth.ca.

Health Promotion in November and Dynamic Health Topics

November 2024 marks the promotion of:

• Fall Prevention Month
• National Pain Awareness Week - November 3-9
• Diabetes Awareness Month

In recognition of these health promotion events, we encourage you to engage with the curated list of Dynamic Health content below.

If you spot any Skills below that you feel need a Workplace Note, consider being a reviewer! Fill out our Suggestions for Skills form with your notes and we will get in touch!

Fall Prevention Month

• Disease & Condition Overviews
  • Hip Fracture
  • Orthostatic Hypotension, Adult
  • Subdural Hematoma, Adult
• Signs & Symptoms
  • Muscular Weakness, Adult
  • Waddling Gait
• Skills
  • Using a Fall Risk Assessment Tool
  • Implementing a Fall Prevention Plan
  • Educating Older Adults About Fall Prevention: Physical and Occupational Therapy
  • Assessing Fall Risk in Adults: Physical Therapy
• Patient Handouts
  • Exercises to Help Prevent Falls (available in English and Spanish)
  • How to Prevent Falls (available in multiple translations)

National Pain Awareness Week

• Disease & Condition Overviews
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Phantom Limb Pain
• Signs & Symptoms
  • Acute Pain, Adult
  • Flank Pain, Adult
  • Abdominal Pain, Adult
• Skills
  • All Clinical Practice Supports - Pain assessment and documentation > HERE:
    https://library.nshealth.ca/Clinical-Practice-Nursing/Pain
• Patient Handouts
  • Neuropathic Pain (available in English and Spanish)
  • Acute Abdominal Pain (available in English and Spanish)
  • Managing Chronic Low Back Pain (available in English and Spanish)

Diabetes Awareness Month

• Disease & Condition Overviews
  • Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Adult
  • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Adult
• Signs & Symptoms
  • Hypoglycemia, Adult
  • Hyperglycemia, Adult
• Skills
  • Educating About Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults
  • Educating About Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults
  • Caring for the Diabetic Foot
  • Managing Hypoglycemia in Conscious Adults
  • Managing Hypoglycemia in Unconscious Adults
• Patient Handouts
  • Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: What's the Link?(available in English and Spanish)
  • Taking Care of Your Diabetes When You Are Sick(available in English and Spanish)
  • Type 1 Diabetes(available in multiple translations)
  • Type 2 Diabetes(available in multiple translations)

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy

Gloria Connolly, RN, BScN, NCA, WOCC(c), GNC(c)
Clinical Nurse Educator
Interprofessional Practice and Learning

Leah MacDonald, RN, BSc, BScN
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice and Learning, ERIN Network

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice and Learning, ERIN Network Hub, Library Services

Margaret Poitras
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Valorie Shaddick, BNRN, CCNP, CVAA (c)
Clinical Nurse Educator
Interprofessional Practice and Learning

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice and Learning, Library Services

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.

This year, any pamphlets published in 2019 or before must be reviewed and updated or they will be removed from circulation on January 31, 2025. 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, their families and essential care partners.

Library Services' Patient Education Team is available to support Nova Scotia Health staff in updating any existing pamphlets. Pamphlets published in 2019 or before that have not been reviewed and updated by January 31, 2025 will be archived and removed from the patient education resources collection. 

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 before the January 31, 2025 deadline.
• 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 feedback
• Reviewing for plain language and readability
• Coordinating adaptation and reprint copyright permission requests
• Ensuring improved accessibility and consistent messaging in line with other Nova Scotia Health materials
• Updating layout and branding

Get 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 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 Rutledge

Librarian Educator, Patient Education Pamphlets Lead
Nova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone