July 10, 2025

  

Our next team meeting will take place

September 23 from 12-4pm @ WWPHC 

Please EVERYONE mark the date and plan to attend. 

We hope to have a full roll out of the new Tcb protocols and other important information that will be relevant to your day to day work.

Kid’s First

A few things have come up in regards to Kid’s First & the IHBQ that I would like to address. 

1.       There was an incident in June where one mom had 3 IHBQs done on 3 different days.  I think the fact that she moved rooms contributed to the confusion.  I find it interesting that she didn’t notify the nurses offering the survey, but that’s another matter! More concerning is that the scores were significantly different from nurse to nurse.  One of the KF nurses will be attending our September team meeting to give us some additional education and help us to make the delivery of the survey more uniform. 

2.       PLEASE get a street address or description of where the client actually resides when confirming the client’s address.  This is particularly relevant for PO Box addresses.  It helps us determine if they are within our boundaries as well as gives us an approximation for travel time.  

3.       As mentioned previously, we are not to use the education room on Maternal Services any longer.  There is a prox card and locker key in the KF folder attached to a green lanyard.  This will allow access to the staff locker room.  You can use the locker for any personal valuables and store your equipment in a corner out of the way.  Please ensure that this prox card stays with the folder so that all staff have access.

SNS Feeding Tubes

We can no longer get the feeding tubes that we have used previously.  We are having to adapt our system to the one that is used at the hospital.  As a result we have had to get a new supply of syringes that will connect to the new tubing.  We only had the option of 12ml or 35ml.  For simplicity, we will only stock the 35ml size.  They DO run by gravity, so you can use the open container system if you choose.  Currently, we only have the 41cm length, but in the future we will get the 90cm.  Please use them sparingly until we get re stocked.  These new tubes are also significantly more expensive than the old ones, so please use your good judgement.  (old tubes were $7.50 – new ones $11.50)

Recorded Webinar

“Nurturing Mental Health Through Perinatal Nutrition: Inclusive Conversations and Support Strategies”.

 We are pleased to let you know that the recording is now available on our website. You can access it via the following link: https://skprevention.ca/event/nurturing-mental-health-through-perinatal-nutrition-inclusive-conversations-and-support-strategies/. 

In addition, we have attached a document compiled by our speaker, Amy, which outlines financial assistance available during pregnancy in Saskatchewan.

Financial Help in Pregnancy - SK

Cultural Safety Survey

Please take some time to fill out the survey. Link is below. 

Cultural Safety Survey July 

Nurse Practitioner Vacation

Please be aware that the Baby Bridge NP is away from July 14 -25^th.  The new NP (her name is Doria) will begin July 28^th.  If you are referring clients that need to be seen in the window where there is no coverage, our OAAs will be referring families to the walk in clinics that offer well baby check ups. 

Please remember that we are ONLY referring clients to the NP who DO NOT have a family physician and reside IN SASKTOON. Having to wait for an appointment with their family doc is NOT a reason to refer to the NP. It is often the MOA that is booking who is unfamiliar with the standard of care.  Feel free to offer to call for the family while at the home visit. A nurse reminding the MOA of the standard of care is sometimes helpful. 

Stolen Equipment

An unfortunate event occurred last week.  A staff member had their vehicle parked in their driveway overnight.  A neighborhood ne’erdowell broke the window and fled with all her work equipment in hand.  I know it is common practice for staff to take their equipment home in between work days.  Be aware, that if work equipment is damaged or stolen outside of work hours, it is the employee’s responsibility to pay for the replacement cost of the lost equipment.  Please take care to either leave your equipment at the office, or take it into your home/garage to ensure it is secure.  The cost of replacing the base equipment in your bag is >$1500.

Lug bag: $200	Scale: $500
Scale Bag: $200	Blood pressure cuffs: $250
Stethoscope: $150	Thermometer $200

 I would not want to have to pass this financial obligation onto anyone!! Please take this as a learning opportunity to be extra careful.

Structural Changes

For those who have been away, and may have missed the huddle announcements, there have been some changes in the reporting structure.  HMHB and Food for Thought will now be reporting to different managers.  Chelsea will manage H&H, Prenatal Education and Saskatoon Midwifery.  There have been several changes within the organization and we are awaiting official notice of any additional changes.  When the changes are all complete, I anticipate a memo will be released that I will pass on. We don’t anticipate any additional changes that may affect our department. 

Cell Phones

I have applied for replacements for the 2 cell phones that were too quiet as well as a replacement for the Team Lead phone.  Please let Kerry know if any of the other phones are not working as they should. 

Tcb Protocols

Please ensure that you are up to date with the Tcb protocols. 

•  Assess for discharge from the “jaundice screening program” if term infant (38 + weeks) and ≥ 48 hours of age; or preterm (35-37/6 weeks) and ≥ 96 hours.
•  If term infant and in TcB green zone, may discharge even if <48hrs if clinically well and no risk factors.
• If term infant and in TcB yellow or red zone and <48hrs, follow-up is needed.
• ALL preterm infants (35-37/6 weeks) require follow-up TcB until ≥96hrs regardless of TcB zone. 
• If term infant and in TcB yellow zone >48hrs – Routine care – discharge from jaundice screening program.

We have had several incidents recently where a family has requested that the nurse re test for jaundice after the baby has been discharged from the jaundice screening program.  This has led to additional visits and blood work that were unnecessary.  It is our job to educate the families and ensure that they understand that the baby’s yellow color is not the only factor in determining jaundice. The new CPS guidelines clearly state that ‘Hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition and is usually benign in term and late preterm newborns’.  It is a result of an immature liver.  Our focus should be on encouraging ‘protective measures like skin to skin contact, breastfeeding support and ensuring feeding effectiveness by monitoring the infant’s weight and urine and stool outputs’.  

Our protocols are firmly rooted in the physiology of jaundice. While your clinical judgement at the time of assessment will be supported, please consider the whole picture.  If you are considering stepping outside of the protocol, please consult with the Supervisor, Team Leader or family physician first.