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Dynamic Health April Round-up: New and Revised Workplace Notes and Custom Skills + Patient Handouts in More Languages + Advance Care Planning Day + National Immunization Awareness Week + Rosacea Awareness Month
04/10/2024
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Social Work, Clinical Practice & Policy , Patient Education, Patient Pamphlets, Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. They highlight any new priority projects and events, as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.

Updates: Reviewed Skills and Workplace Notes

We receive feedback submissions about Dynamic Health skills on an ongoing basis through the Suggest an Edit form and through partnerships with departments and teams.

Reviewed: New Workplace Note

Reviewed: No Workplace Note

New Custom Skills

Patient Handouts in More Languages, Including French (Canada)

226 Patient Handout titles are now available in multiple languages including French (Canada), Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Russian and Tagalog. More titles are expected to be available in multiple translations over time. Click on the hyperlinked language after  Get PDF: to access a specific translation.

Example:

Dynamic Health’s Patient Handouts can be used at the point of care (e.g., printed and shared with a patient) when there is nothing applicable within the Nova Scotia Health patient education pamphlet collection or when creating or updating site/unit specific material by putting the information in your own words and citing Dynamic Health.

Find more information about creating patient education pamphlets by visiting: https://library.nshealth.ca/CreatingContent/Pamphlets.

Health Promotion in April and Dynamic Health Topics

April 2024 marks the promotion of:

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!

Advance Care Planning Day

National Immunization Awareness Week

Rosacea Awareness Month

Dynamic Health Project Team

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

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health March Round-up: New and Revised Workplace Notes and Custom Skills + Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month + National Poison Prevention Week
03/05/2024
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Guidelines, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. They highlight any new priority projects and events, as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.

Updates: Reviewed Skills and Workplace Notes

We receive feedback submissions about Dynamic Health skills on an ongoing basis through the Suggest an Edit form and through partnerships with departments and teams.

We continue to process skill reviews received as a part of our second skill review push up to and including March 8th, 2024.

Reviewed: New Workplace Note

Reviewed: No Workplace Note

New Custom Skills

Health Promotion in March and Dynamic Health Topics

March 2024 marks the promotion of:

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!

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

National Poison Prevention Week

The Atlantic Canada Poison Centre provides our local guidance on poisoning information. Dynamic Health content may be used in combination with their recommendations.

Dynamic Health Project Team

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

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health February Round-up: Updates: New and Revised Workplace Notes + Highlights: One Year of Dynamic Health! + World Cancer Day + Wear Red Day + Mental Health Nurses Day
02/06/2024
Library Staff
Mental Health, Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. They highlight any new priority projects and events, as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.

Updates: Reviewed Skills and Workplace Notes

We receive feedback submissions about Dynamic Health skills on an ongoing basis through the Suggest an Edit form and through partnerships with departments and teams.

This month we have a large list of updates due to our recent Skill Review push that closed January 31st, 2024. We continue to process submitted reviews and will report on more next month.

Reviewed: New Workplace Note

Reviewed: No Workplace Note

Highlights: One Year of Dynamic Health

February marks one year since we launched Dynamic Health with Nova Scotia Health customizations (Workplace Notes, Custom Skills, etc.). Thank you to all our collaborators, users and supporters. We include analytics below, including data from a system report run on January 26, 2024, that reflects our collective success this past year.

  • 70,609 unique Topic Section views
  • 1,157 Skills assigned and/or reviewed
  • 487 Workplace Notes published
  • 8 Custom Workplace Skills published
  • 5 Skills linked or embedded into new or updated Nova Scotia Health policy and/or LMS
  • 385 attendees at online education sessions
  • 139 post-session recording watches
  • 1,265 Personal user accounts created
  • 157.5 Continuing Education Hours Claimed

Dynamic Health is intended to make using evidence at the point-of-care easy for nursing and allied health care professionals. Using Dynamic Health procedures supports standardizing practice for nursing and allied health across the organization. Our implementation efforts target empowering leaders and staff to engage with evidence-based decision making through easy access to procedure level guidance. Procedures in Dynamic Health are reviewed and edited regularly by the publisher’s editorial team. Additionally, we track all changes from the publisher and cross-reference this information with all customizations made at Nova Scotia Health. Where relevant, we link to organization policy within Workplace Notes and Custom Skills.

The analytics above indicate excellent uptake in year one, with room to grow in terms of utilization of continuing education credits for individual professional development. We’re encouraged by the high number of Skills reviewed and annotated with Workplace Notes versus the more labour-intensive Custom Workplace Skills. Several groups have adopted Dynamic Health for nursing and allied health procedures. Dynamic Health continues to facilitate discussions about which nursing and allied health procedures require policy-level documentation versus practices that benefit from a procedure-first approach.

Health Promotion in February and Dynamic Health Topics

February 2024 marks the promotion of:

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!

World Cancer Day

Wear Red Day

Mental Health Nurses Day

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health January Round-up: Updated Workplace Notes + Skill Review Deadlines + Alzheimer's Awareness Month + Let’s Talk Day
01/02/2024
Library Staff
Mental Health, Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Social Work, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about the implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. They highlight any new priority projects and events as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.

Skill Reviews Due by January 31, 2024

Our second skill review push is underway. A huge “Thank you!” to all of our volunteer reviewers! Reviewers received their assigned skill(s) to review earlier in December. All reviews must be submitted through the skill review form by January 31, 2024. If you have any questions about the process or would like assistance completing a review, reach out to us at DynamicHealth@nshealth.ca. We’re available by email or Teams to talk things through and provide guidance. Learn more about the Skill Review process on the Dynamic Health Support subject guide.

Health Promotion in January and Dynamic Health Topics

January 2024 marks the promotion of:

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 Suggest an Edit form with your notes and we will get in touch!

Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Let's Talk Day

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health December Round-up: Updated Workplace Notes, Care Directive and Policy links + Focusing Search Results + World AIDS Day + International Day of Persons with Disabilities + National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
12/05/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Teaching & Learning, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. They highlight any new priority projects and events as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.

Updates: Workplace Notes, Links in Care Directives

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:

Focusing Search Results

There's a lot of evidence-based guidance summarized across Dynamic Health’s Topic Sections – from Diseases & Condition summaries to Skills. Remember, only content within the Skills Topic Section can be customized (e.g., through a Workplace Note). Understanding how to Filter Results can help you get the best guidance for your need.

Let’s say you are looking for skills about taking blood pressure in adults:

  1. From the main page of Dynamic Health, enter “blood pressure” in the search box (1). Do not choose one of the autosuggestions that populates as you type. Click the spy glass to run the search.
  2. To the left of the results page, note the Filter Results (2) column. Under CONTENT TYPE check off Skills . Note the filter is applied immediately, resulting in fewer results.
  3. Under PATIENT POPULATION (3), check off Adult.
  4. Note that the number of results is reduced further and that the Skills and Adult filters are highlighted at the top (4). Click the X on each filter at the top of the results page to remove them.

Health Promotion in December and Dynamic Health Topics

December 2023 marks the promotion of:

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 Suggest an Edit form with your notes and we will get in touch!

World AIDS Day

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health November Round-up: Updated Workplace Notes + Checklists + Call for Skill Reviewers + Fall Prevention Month + Movember + World Diabetes Day
11/06/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Teaching & Learning, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

UPDATED: May 15, 2024

Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. They highlight any new priority projects and events as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.

Updates: Workplace Notes

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:

Checklists

Did you know that Skills within Dynamic Health have associated Checklists you can use in practice and for instructing new staff? Let’s say you were interested in mentoring a colleague using the Dynamic Health skill Changing Peripheral IV Catheter Dressings in Adults.

  1. Navigate to the skill through Dynamic Health by searching “Changing IV Catheter” or through direct link (above).
  2. From the Skill menu, select Checklist.
  3. Note that the printable version of this checklist contains a form to allow you to record evaluator and examinee names and signatures, date and pass/fail status as appropriate.
  4. Select the printer icon to the upper right of the Checklist.
  5. Select the sections to include in the Checklist (Preprocedure Steps, Procedure Steps, Postprocedure Steps.
  6. Select Print.
  7. Choose to print a physical copy or to save a PDF to your computer, depending on your settings and needs.

Calling all Reviewers! Skills Review Push – Fall 2023

What’s a skills review push?

Back in the Winter of 2023, you may have supported Dynamic Health implementation by volunteering to evaluate skills within Dynamic Health. This process involved determining if a skill was part of current practice and if it aligned with Nova Scotia Health resources like policy. This process enabled us to review over 500 skills at the time! There are a lot of skills left in Dynamic Health that need a look! Many could better align with practice at Nova Scotia Health, so we’re asking for your support to do another round of review.

How do I get involved?

Be curious and engage! Explore Dynamic Health and look up skills that:

  • You and/or your colleagues know a lot about
    • Is there a workplace note? Do you have any edits?
    • Does it need a workplace note?
  • You and/or your colleagues have frequent questions about
    • Is it helpful?
    • Is there room for improvement?

After you explore, take a moment to fill out our brief form to indicate your intention to participate as a reviewer: https://library.nshealth.ca/DH-Call-Reviewers. Please express your interest through this form by November 30th, 2023. We will follow up with you directly after this date with the number of skills that you indicated you are willing to take on.

How can I learn more and help spread the word?

You’ll find the recording and slides from our recent Lunch and Learn – Skills Review 101 here: https://library.nshealth.ca/Dynamic-Health-Support/Lunch-Learn#s-lg-box-16713274. Content from this session can be reused to help you in your efforts. Share the following information about the skills review push:

  • Links to relevant skills with workplace notes
  • Call for Reviewers form (above)

Continuing education credit is another great incentive to get involved. Check out our latest update about Practice and Leadership Premiums here: https://library.nshealth.ca/Dynamic-Health-Support/CE-Credits.

Health Promotion in November and Dynamic Health Topics

November 2023 marks the promotion of:

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

Movember

World Diabetes Day

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health October Round-up: Updated Workplace Note + Leadership Content + Nursing Practice Premiums + Skills Review Lunch and Learn + User Experience Survey + Breast Cancer Awareness Month + Occupational Therapy Month + World Psoriasis Day
10/10/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Teaching & Learning, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. These posts highlight any new priority projects and events as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.

Updates: Workplace Notes, Leadership Topic Section and Nursing Practice Premiums

We receive feedback submissions on an ongoing basis through the Suggestions for Skills form and through partnerships with departments and teams. This month, the following customization has been added:

Leadership Topic Section

Dynamic Health has added new leadership content with point-of-care nursing and health professional leaders in mind (managers, supervisors, charge nurses, etc.). It is designed specifically for those looking to take their professional growth and team development to the next level. Each Leadership topic includes an overview, best practices, and strategies. While more than 350 topics are anticipated, all topics will not be released at once – they will be released over time to ensure thoughtful, evidence-based information is included in each one. You’ll find this new Topic Section in Dynamic Health on the main menu:

Dynamic Health CE and Nursing Practice Premiums

When you make a personal account for using Dynamic Health, you can track and collect Continuing Education (CE) credits. Dynamic Health CE credits are worth Nursing Practice Premiums!

Learn more on the Dynamic Health Support Subject Guide, which includes this table Note that participating in our skills review or creating a custom skill is worth points too!

Lunch and Learn + Second Skills Review Push – Join in!

Our Applying Evidence Lunch and Learn events are in full swing! Register for one or all the events here.

An important part of Dynamic Health implementation at Nova Scotia Health is connecting with nursing and allied health professionals across the organization. One way we do this is through periodic skill review “pushes” where we identify a batch of skills that need review and match them to team members throughout Nova Scotia Health. Reviewing a skill can result in a new Workplace Note or creation of a Custom Skill.

Find out more about this key process during the October 25th Lunch and Learn event at noon. Register today!

User Experience Survey – Deadline Extended

We want to check in with Nova Scotia Health nursing and allied health units and teams about their awareness of and user experience with Dynamic Health. We need your help to ask nursing and allied health staff to fill out this short survey – even if Dynamic Health is new to them!

Please share and encourage completion of the survey here: https://library.nshealth.ca/DH-UX

How are Customizations Updated?

We’re often asked about how Dynamic Health customizations (Workplace Notes, Custom Skills) are kept current when evidence, local practice, policies, learning modules, and other guidance changes. It’s a good question, and a valid concern given the volume and fluid nature of information. We make sure local customizations are current through three avenues:

  • Publisher Updates
    EBSCO’s Editorial Team for Dynamic Health sends a report on content changes every two months. We cross-reference this report with our list of workplace notes and skills to determine if we need to edit and/or reach out to key contributors about making a change.
  • Local Monitoring
    We monitor updates from Nova Scotia Health departments and teams, such as The Policy Office, to identify changes that need to be reflected in Dynamic Health. We also rely on input through our Suggestions for Skills form.
  • Built-in Review Cycle
    We template and track every customization we make by date and last reviewer. In alignment with Nova Scotia Health’s Policy Office review cycle, we will follow up with the last author(s) on record of a customization every 4 years to make sure the existing Workplace Note or Custom Skill reflects current practice within the organization.

Health Promotion in October and Dynamic Health Topics

October 2023 marks the promotion of:

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!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Occupational Therapy Month

World Psoriasis Day

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

 

Dynamic Health September Round-up: Updates Summary + User Experience Survey + Ankle Brachial Policy and Fall Lunch and Learn + Fibromyalgia Awareness Week + Arthritis Awareness Month + World Alzheimer’s Month
09/06/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

We’re back with Dynamic Health Round-ups after a summer hiatus. Dynamic Health round-up posts keep you informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health. They highlight any new priority projects and events, as well as updates to our Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills. Read on to get caught up and ready for Fall!

Updates: Skills, Workplace Notes and Dynamic Health FAQs

We’ve received several feedback submissions over the past two months through the Suggestions for Skills form. As a result of this feedback, we’re happy to highlight new and updated workplace notes on five skills:

In addition to these changes, we’ve also edited how we direct you to official guidance from Pathology and Laboratory Medicine regarding reference ranges. You’ll find this new info added to our FAQ document, Dynamic Health Frequently Asked Questions:

Are lab values within Dynamic Health topics the same as those used at NS Health?
Topic sections, like a specific Skill, may reference lab result ranges that vary from Nova Scotia Health laboratory generated ranges. Always defer to local guidance regarding laboratory results > HERE: https://intra.nshealth.ca/plm/SitePages/Home.aspx.

User Experience Survey

When deciding to implement Dynamic Health organization-wide, we gathered feedback on user experience through an initial survey as a baseline. At close to 8 months since launch, we are seeking more general feedback on the overall usability of Dynamic Health, as well as our local customizations (e.g., Workplace Notes).

Ankle Brachial Measurement and Fall Lunch and Learn

Starting October 4th at noon, we will be hosting a four-part Lunch and Learn series – Applying Evidence: Demystifying Nursing and Allied Health Procedures with Dynamic Health!

The first session in this series will look at the first example of Dynamic Health Skills being used within policy – Ankle Brachial Index Measurement. We’ll hear from Interprofessional Practice and Policy Office leaders about the broader vision for Dynamic Health, as well as from policy authors about the process.

Additional sessions in this series will include an overview of the skill review process, more examples of using the resource across Nova Scotia Health, as well as some practical tips and tricks on implementing Dynamic Health into patient care.

Health Promotion in September and Dynamic Health Topics

September 2023 marks promotion of:

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’ll get in touch!

Fibromyalgia Awareness Week

Arthritis Awareness Month

World Alzheimer's Month

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health June Round-up: Emergency Department Custom Skills + Superuser Training Event + Migraine Awareness Month + Cataract Awareness Month + PTSD Awareness Day
05/30/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

In last month’s Round-up post we explained the difference between Workplace Notes and Custom Skills. Our first project to create Custom Skills focuses on topics relevant to Nova Scotia Health emergency departments.

We collaborated with a group of Clinical Nurse Educators who support emergency care areas throughout the province to create seven new custom skills. This collaboration involved:

  1. Revising existing Skill content to reflect practice across Nova Scotia Health,
  2. Peer review of each skill draft, and
  3. Final revisions and layout in Dynamic Health.

Finding Custom Skills

You’ll find all our Custom Skills in Dynamic Health by selecting Skills (1) > Your Workplace (2) from the main menu.

Custom Skills will also be identified in your results when you search Dynamic Health. For example, a search for “Rapid Sequence Intubation” (1), returns a list of relevant results. The Emergency Department Custom Skill is labelled with the Topic Section “Your Workplace Skill”(2).

Check our first series of Emergency Department Custom Skills here:

Superuser Training: June 21

We’re adding one more Superuser Training event before summer! This session will provide more information on how to get started using Dynamic Health in your clinical areas, highlighting key features and functionality such as access, navigation, troubleshooting and feedback.

We’ll also explain the difference between Workplace Notes and customized Workplace Skills.

This session will be delivered over Microsoft Teams on June 21 at 10 a.m. Register here.

Health Promotion in June and Dynamic Health Topics

June 2023 marks promotion of:

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 content under Skills below that you feel needs a Workplace Note, consider being a reviewer! Fill out our Suggestions for Skills form with your notes and we’ll get in touch!

Migraine Awareness Month

Cataract Awareness Month

PTSD Awareness Day

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health May Round-up: Updates from Feedback + Custom Skills + Celiac Disease Awareness Month + Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month + Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month
05/01/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

We've heard from several health care professionals since launch about the interesting ways they are working with Dynamic Health Skills in their area of care. For example, one Clinical Nurse Educator reported using entries about the Mini Mental Health Exam to provide frontline nurses with a refresher.

We’ve also had useful feedback submitted through the Suggestions for Skills form. As a result of this feedback, we’re happy to highlight updated workplace notes on three skills:

We've also added new workplace notes to seven additional skills, based on user feedback received through our first round of reviews:

NOTE Updated content for workplace notes will be shared periodically through these blog posts for your awareness.

Custom Skills: An Introduction

In addition to adding Workplace Notes at the top of skills, Dynamic Health also has the functionality to create standalone custom skills.

The initial goal of our skill review process is to create a Workplace Note that highlights relevant policies, additional support resources (subject guide, patient education, etc.) and any local variations (if needed). If the reviewer reports excessive variations in practice, resulting in a lengthy Workplace Note, the skill is flagged and considered for a Custom Skill. Using the existing skill as a template, the Dynamic Health team collaborates with health care professionals in the relevant area to create a new skill that aligns with the Nova Scotia Health policy and procedure. The new Custom Skill has the same layout and elements as an original Dynamic Health Skill.

Our first project to create Custom Skills is under way, focusing on topics relevant to our emergency departments. Collaborating with a group of Clinical Nurse Educators who support emergency care areas throughout the province, we have drafted seven new Custom Skills. These drafts are currently being reviewed by peers for feedback and will be laid out in Dynamic Health later in May. Check back for our June Round-up to stay up to date on this project and keep an eye out for links to these new Custom Emergency Department Skills. Coming soon!

Health Promotion in May and Dynamic Health Topics

May 2023 marks promotion of:

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 content under Skills below that doesn’t have a Workplace Note, consider being a reviewer! Fill out our Suggestions for Skills form with your notes and we’ll get in touch!

Celiac Disease Awareness Month

Cystic Fibrosis Month

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Dynamic Health April Round-up: Usage Statistics and Top Skills + Content Sections vs. Skills + Immunization Awareness Month + Rosacea
04/03/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Since the launch of Dynamic Health in February the collaborative team from Interprofessional Practice and Learning (IPPL), Policy, and Library Services have reviewed and aligned almost 500 skills with the help of health care team members. We also delivered two training sessions to front-line superusers. We would like to thank all those who attended and/or viewed the recordings of these sessions. Your engagement is appreciated and noted! We are seeing great usage statistics for the first month with over 15,000 topic views.

The top 5 Skills viewed since launch are:

  1. Inserting a Nasogastric Tube in an Adult Patient
  2. Treating Adults with Pressure Injuries
  3. Managing Chest Tubes in Adults
  4. Changing a Suprapubic Catheter
  5. Preventing Pressure Injuries in Adult

Learn more about Dynamic Health in our support subject guide or engage with the team about any questions or opportunities by emailing DynamicHealth@nshealth.ca! Find a skill you think needs a review, edit, or note? Fill out our Suggestions for Skills form.

Topic Sections vs. Skills

To understand our usage statistics for Dynamic Health, it’s important to understand what a Topic Section is. A Topic Section is content categorized with a specific purpose in Dynamic Health. Diseases & Conditions, Signs & Symptoms, Tests & Labs, Care Interventions, Skills, Drug Guide, and Patient Handouts are all different and unique Topic Section categories.

Let’s take a closer look by searching for guidance about assessing confusion. Enter the term “confusion” in the main search box, click the  icon (1) and review the results. Note that two results are highlighted in light green and listed first (2). These results are flagged as most relevant to the search. Each result also has a Topic Section category at the top (3). The most relevant results in light green are from the Signs & Symptoms Topic Section category. Note that other results down the list are retrieved from other Topic Sections – Nursing Skills, Care Interventions, etc.(4). Topic Section categories are also listed to the left of your results where you can apply them to your search as filters to narrow down to only Signs & Symptoms and Nursing Skills (5).

NOTE We've been asked about editing or adding a note to content in a Topic Section other than what you’ll find under the Skills category. We can only add local notes, hide content, and create custom content within the Skills Topic Section.

Content in Diseases & Conditions, Signs & Symptoms, Tests & Labs, Care Interventions, Drug Guide, and Patient Handouts, while not customizable locally, go through the same evidence-based, regular review by Ebsco’s Dynamic Health editorial team. This trusted, continually updated content across Topic Sections should always be used in combination with local practice, professional knowledge, and patient preferences.

Evidence as an Adjunct to Local Practice, Professional Knowledge

Dynamic Health’s synthesized content across Topic Sections and rigorous editorial process make it an evidence-based, point-of-care knowledge resource. While practicing evidence-based health care is important, the way you might end up using a guidance resource like Dynamic Health won’t always look the same. Let’s take Dynamic Health’s content and apply it to the 5As of Evidence-based Health Care.

Evidence-based Health Care (or Practice or Medicine) asks health care providers to:

  • Assess the patient
  • Ask a clear, clinical question
  • Acquire evidence to answer the question
  • Appraise the quality of the evidence
  • Apply the evidence to patient care

Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2019

Knowledge resources like Dynamic Health assist with Asking, Acquiring and Appraising by monitoring primary sources as they emerge and critically evaluating them. Findings are synthesized and made available for specific health care audiences, in Dynamic Health’s case, for Nursing and Allied Health professionals. The goal is saving time so the health care provider can focus on Assessing the patient and Applying the evidence, alongside local guidance and expertise.

Health Promotion in April and Dynamic Health Topics

April 2023 marks promotion of:

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 content under Skills/Procedures below that doesn’t have a Workplace Note, consider being a reviewer! Fill out our Suggestions for Skills form with your notes and we’ll get in touch!

Rosacea Awareness Month

National Immunization Awareness Week

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

 

Dynamic Health March Round-up: More Front-line Superuser Training Added + Suggested Citation Formats + Colon Cancer Awareness Month + National Poison Prevention Week
03/03/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health

Since launching Dynamic Health last month, the collaborative team from Interprofessional Practice and Learning (IPPL), Policy, and Library Services have reviewed and aligned almost 500 skills with the help of health care team members across Nova Scotia Health. We want to thank all those who’ve been a partner in this work to date! Working together on this knowledge-sharing project ensures that our health care teams are engaged in evidence day to day and have access to reliable guidance in one place.

Learn more about Dynamic Health in our support subject guide or engage with the team about any questions or opportunities by emailing DynamicHealth@nshealth.ca! Find a skill you think needs a review, edit or note? Fill out our Suggestions for Skills form.

Front-line Superuser Training Added for March 21st!

We’ve had such a great response for our first Front-line Superuser Training event, we’ll be hosting another event March 21st at 1pm to accommodate those registered on our waitlist. Register here to attend the online Teams meeting that will help you get started with using Dynamic Health in your clinical area. Please note: If you attended the Interprofessional Practice and Learning superuser training for Clinical Nurse Educators held earlier in February you do not need to attend this session. Similar content will be delivered.

Suggested Citation Formats

You asked how we recommend citing content from Dynamic Health, so we’re answering! When citing content from a Dynamic Health section (Diseases & Conditions, Signs & Symptoms, Tests & Labs, Care Interventions, Skills, Drug Guide, Patient Handouts, etc.) use Dynamic Health as the Author, and the section topic as the Title. Ebsco Industries is the Publisher.

Template:

Author. (Current Year). Title of section topic. Publisher. Retrieved Month, Day Year Accessed from URL to section.

Example:

Dynamic Health. (2023). Administering red blood cells to adults. Ebsco Industries. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www-dynahealth-com.libraryproxy.nshealth.ca/nursing-skills/administering-red-blood-cells-to-adults

When citing content from a Nova Scotia Health Workplace Note on a Dynamic Health Skill, use Nova Scotia Health as the Author and cite the date the note was last updated. Add “A note from your workplace on” then the Title of skill, italicized. Follow with the Source “In Dynamic Health.”, then add the Publisher, “Ebsco Industries”. Add the date you retrieved the note and the URL for the skill at the end.

Template:

Author. (Year, Month Day note last updated). A note from your workplace on Title of skill. In Dynamic Health. Ebsco Industries. Retrieved Month Day, Year from URL for skill.

Example:

Nova Scotia Health. (2023, January 24). A note from your workplace on Administering red blood cells to adults. In Dynamic Health. Ebsco Industries. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www-dynahealth-com.libraryproxy.nshealth.ca/nursing-skills/administering-red-blood-cells-to-adults

You are not permitted to download or save images, or other material created by Dynamic Health, for reuse in your own content. You may refer to images, videos, etc. and direct people to view them with a link to a Nova Scotia Health or other authorized access point.

Example in content:

Review Image 2: Position Fingers to Apply Pressure to Radial Artery and Insertion Site (Dynamic Health, 2023) here: https://www-dynahealth-com.libraryproxy.nshealth.ca/nursing-skills/removing-a-radial-arterial-sheath-using-manual-compression

Example in reference list:

Dynamic Health. (2023). Removing a radial arterial sheath using manual compression. Ebsco Industries. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www-dynahealth-com.libraryproxy.nshealth.ca/nursing-skills/removing-a-radial-arterial-sheath-using-manual-compression

If you have questions about Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health, please email our team at DynamicHealth@nshealth.ca.

Health Promotion in March and Dynamic Health Topics

March 2023 marks promotion of:

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

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

National Poison Prevention Week

The Atlantic Canada Poison Centre provides our local guidance on poisoning information. Dynamic Health content may be used in combination with their recommendations.

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

 

NEW! Introducing Dynamic Health™ for Clinical Skills + February Cardiovascular Focus
02/06/2023
Library Staff
Nursing, Physicians, Recreation Therapy, Clinical Practice & Policy , Point-of-Care Tools, Paramedicine, Occupational Therapy, Dynamic Health
Dynamic Health™ is an evidence-based tool designed to help nurses and allied health professionals master skills, obtain fast answers to questions, and foster a culture of evidence-based practice and critical thinking, leading to improved patient outcomes.

Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services and the Policy Office have collaborated to launch Dynamic Health™, a new point-of-care electronic clinical practice resource, on February 6, 2023.

This evidence-based resource is designed to help nurses and allied health professionals find guidance on care interventions and to obtain fast, accurate answers to clinical questions. It also allows Nova Scotia Health to customize certain aspects, including integrating links to policies, LMS modules and other local clinical guidance. We anticipate that this feature will make it easier for clinical staff to find all relevant information that guides practice. Historically, nursing teams used Fundamentals of Nursing (Potter, P & Perry, A) in print as a resource. Dynamic Health offers the same evidence-based guidance, with integrated Nova Scotia Health content and additional resources, such as videos, skills checklists, images and more!

Workplace Notes for Nova Scotia Health

For the first phase of using Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health, workplace notes have been added at the top of specific skills. Not all skills will need a workplace note, such as skills that are standard practice. When a skill is identified as needing a note (e.g., if certain competencies are required and/or there are minor variations in procedures), relevant health care professionals and/or departments are consulted for input.

Support Resources and Access Points

  • Check out our Dynamic Health Support subject guide to learn more and get started using this tool to support your practice and team.
  • Dynamic Health will be available on clinical computers through the Intranet (under Clinical Applications) and from anywhere through the Library’s website and Databases A-Z list.
  • Please note, staff will be asked for their username and password when accessing Dynamic Health from outside of the Nova Scotia Health network.
  • There is also a Dynamic Health mobile app, which can be downloaded onto your device and used once you have created an account through a Nova Scotia Health access point.

If you have questions about Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health, please email our team at DynamicHealth@nshealth.ca.

February – Cardiovascular-related Topics

February 2023 marks promotion of:

To support awareness for these campaigns, relevant Dynamic Health content is linked below.

Congenital Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Topics

Dynamic Health Project Team

Amanda Revels
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Western Zone

Leah MacDonald
Professional Practice Leader
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, COVID-19 Response

Katie McLean
Librarian Educator
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

Margaret Meier
Policy Lead
Policy Office

Ann Slaunwhite
Library Technician
Interprofessional Practice & Learning, Library Services

 

Resource Spotlight: CINAHL® (Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature) Complete
07/17/2019
profile-icon Katie McLean
Nursing, Nutrition & Diet Therapy, Rehabilitation, Recreation Therapy, Social Work, Searching

UPDATED: July 17, 2019. Original Post: February 1, 2017.

If you’ve ever tried to loosen a screw with a nail file or pop a wine bottle cork using a screwdriver, you know it’s easier when you have the right tool for the job. It’s the same when looking for information. It helps to search in a database that is built for your specific subject and/or discipline. If your research and/or practice area is nursing, rehabilitation, social work, dietetics or another allied health discipline, consider using CINAHL® Complete. 

CINAHL® retrieves information about articles from more than 5,000 journals, from 1937 to the present. Since the focus of the database is nursing and allied health literature, articles are tagged with preferred terms that reflect the language used in these disciplines. These tags, a form of controlled vocabulary, are called CINAHL® Subject Headings. Searching with CINAHL® subject headings will return more relevant results.

This short tutorial will help you get started using CINAHL® subject headings:

 

For more guidance on searching in CINAHL® Complete, view the tutorials on EBSCO’s CINAHL® Databases Training site or contact Library Services. 

Lana MacEachern

Library Technician
Aberdeen Regional Hospital, Northern Zone

Katie McLean

Librarian Educator, Education & Outreach
Dickson Building, Central Zone

Field is required.