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Resources

Additional Information

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• NNPBC is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation around COVID-19 and is in close contact with health authorities, BC Government and BC's Chief Nursing Officers.
• NNPBC encourages everyone to read the ongoing alerts and daily updates provided by the Provincial Health Officer and the Minister of Health.
• Nurses, many of whom work as primary care providers, play an important role in disease surveillance and are a vital resource in helping to understand and control infectious disease.
• Widespread use of masks by the public perpetuates a shortage of access for healthcare providers who rely on the necessary equipment to provide safe and effective care. Therefore, NNPBC strongly encourages nurses and members of the public to stay informed on when and why to use a mask.
• NNPBC supports the position articulated by our national colleagues, CNA, in this joint statement regarding the importance of nurses having ready access to personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Nurses are essential to the management of, response to and recovery from infectious disease.
• NNPBC strongly supports physical/social distancing to help reduce the rapid rate of spread of COVID-19 in an effort to 'flatten the curve' and ensure that our healthcare system and providers can continue to provide proper care to those who need it.
• NNPBC supports the WHO recommendations to wash hands regularly and well, cover the mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing.
• Patients and families, as well as the general public, often turn to nurses as trusted healthcare resources and will rely on nurses as sources of accurate information about the spread of disease.
• NNPBC discourages rumour or speculation as they are potentially damaging. Instead it encourages nurses and other healthcare providers to follow news reports put out by the BC Ministry of Health, the BCCDC, their employers and the WHO.
• Nurses play an important role in ensuring that elevated anxiety about the COVID-19 does not trigger or perpetuate prejudices that negatively impact specific population subgroups.
• NNPBC encourages all nurses to follow procedures and policies as outlined by the WHO, BCCDC and by their worksite/workplace.

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NNPBC Resources for Nurses

Issues Briefs and Past Statements

Other Tools and Resources

X Effective primary care coverage is essential during the COVID-19 outbreak and expanding virtual care will allow physicians to provide care remotely and limit the possibility of transmission. To accommodate increasing requests for immediate support, the Doctors Technology Office (DTO) will be holding seminars, publishing resources and implementing interim measures including:

• DTO Virtual Care Quick Start Guide
• DTO Virtual Care Physician Peer Network - DTO is building a network of physicians and MOAs to help fellow practitioners who require more hands-on support with implementing virtual care. For more information or to volunteer as a physicians/MOA peer mentor, contact DTOinfo@doctorsofbc.ca.
• Other support - Doctors Technology Office also provides various health technology resources to help navigate clinic privacy & security, EMR troubleshooting, billing and other related items. DTO's virtual care resource list will be updated as more information become available. Doctors Technology Office - Virtual Care resources.

For more information and direct one-on-one support with implementing virtual care or health technology, please contact Doctors Technology Office directly at:

Main Line: 604-638-5841 | 1 800 665 2262
Email: dtoinfo@doctorsofbc.ca
Webpage: https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/dto

Island Health Medical Staff- Virtual Care Resources

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What is the role of a professional association during a pandemic?

A professional association works to support nurses in delivering safe, competent and ethical care during a pandemic. It acts to advance the profession through advocacy, policy and awareness campaigns designed to ensure that the all important 'nursing voice' is at the core of decision making. Given it is nurses who are at the forefront of care, NNPBC, as BC's professional association representing all of BC's nursing designations, contributes to the planning of policy and emergency responses during this time.

What does 'flatten the curve' mean?

The idea behind "flatten the curve" is pretty simple: if a virus, in this case COVID-19, spreads rapidly the healthcare system will become overwhelmed, hampering its ability to care for those who are most critically ill. All of us can play a part in this process by 'social distancing' which will help reduce the spread of the virus, 'flatten' out rates of infection and give our healthcare system and providers a chance to ensure that they can help those most in need of care over a longer period of time. Check out the graphic here.

What's the difference between social distancing, isolation and quarantine?

Social distancing is about increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19. Cancelling a sporting event, a class at your gym, or a concert are examples of social distancing. We're also creating social distance by working from home and moving classes to online vs. classroom instruction (as some examples).

Isolation means making sure people who are ill and infected with a contagious illness are kept away from those who are not infected. For some people isolation happens at home, and for others it can happen at a hospital or in care facility.

Quarantine is a way of separating and/or restricting the movement of people who are well but who may have been exposed to an illness to see if they become ill. Quarantine for COVID-19 last 14 days which provides enough time for people to know whether or not they will become sick. Generally, self-quarantine involves:

• Ensuring you wash hands frequently (we should all be doing this!)
• Not sharing towels or utensils
• Staying at home
• Making sure you have no visitors
• Keeping at least six feet away from members of your household

I have a vacation booked soon, what do I do?

Please refer to the Public Health Agency of Canada website. At this time people are being asked to NOT engage in non-essential travel.

As a reminder, please direct all questions regarding licensing and registration to our colleagues at the BC College of Nurses and Midwives.

Please find their COVID-19 information pages, here.

X Since launching last fall, the Health PPE Portal has provided personal protective equipment (PPE) and critical supplies to nurse practitioners, general practitioners and physician specialists in community clinics across B.C.

If you have already ordered through the portal, you will soon receive an email reminding you of your unique customer identification number and inviting you to place your next order for up to three months of PPE and critical supplies. Reordering is available starting June 1, 2021.

The release of emails and letters will be staggered to avoid overwhelming our warehouse. If you do not receive and email or letter by June 14, 2021, please e-mail health.ppe@gov.bc.ca for assistance.

If you have not ordered through the portal and are eligible, your office will soon receive a follow-up letter with your customer number and details on the PPE and supplies you can order.

A reminder that orders are typically shipped within five businesses days of placing the order. Please be patient if your order is slightly delayed.

If you have questions about the portal, please email health.ppe@gov.bc.ca.