X

COVID-19 - Key Messages

• 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.

X

COVID-19 Nursing jobs

• Canadian Red Cross  -  COVID-19 Mental Health Specialist (Anticipatory Recruitment)
• Canadian Red Cross COVID-19  -  Outpatient Department Registered Nurse (OPD RN)
• First Nations Health Authority  -  Community Health Nurse, Resource Team
• Provincial Health Services Authority  -  Infection Control Practitioner (RN)
• Provincial Health Services Authority  -  Occupational Health Nurse
• Public Health Agency of Canada  -  Various positions - new
• Vancouver Coastal Health  -  COVID-19 Response: Registered Nurse (RN)

RNs for BC's 811 line needed

PHSA is also actively seeking Registered Nurses to staff Health Link BC's 811 call centres.

Staff who are interested in redeployment will need to complete the COVID-19 Redeployment Opportunities form with their manager's signature and submit it to covidredeployment@phsa.ca.

X

What does it mean to flatten the curve?

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 ‘physical distancing’ (formerly 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 this resource from Global TV.

X

Doctors Technology Office – Virtual Care Support Response

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 Toolkit
• 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

X

COVID-19 - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Where can I find a link to the COVID-19 self-assessment tool?

The tool can be found here: https://covid19.thrive.health/.

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 Nursing Professionals.

Please find their COVID-19 information pages, here.

X

Call to Action- an emergent need for respite/alternative living due to COVID-19

Dear Colleagues,

We have a Call to Action from the health sector - an emergent need for respite/alternative living due to Covid-19 response.

We hope you will support by forwarding to people you know who might be able to support with planning/resources or to participate on an ad hoc committee to help us develop a responsive plan to meet an emergent need for respite space for sector workers, incl. auxiliary/support hospital staff, Physicians, RN’s, Interns etc.. This is something that won’t likely wait, we need to take steps asap, and reduce the barriers to accessing for our health sector colleagues.

We have bcc'd you because we want to keep your email from flooding, please reach out or provide our email contacts to anyone you think might be able to help.

Background - As the Covid-19 crisis emerged locally over the past two weeks I reached out to people I know locally who might be able to inform the need, sharing the potential to utilize our Crescent Beach site for health sector workers needing respite or for those who can’t adequately isolate at home with their family in between shifts etc. We have heard a lot about childcare needs, but I had a thought that this might be an emergent need as I watched how things were manifesting across the world.

Our colleague, Teresa O’Callaghan, Executive Director at Peace Arch Hospital/Delta Hospital and Delta/WR/SS Health services confirmed today this is an emergent need.

I have had a chance to briefly connect with Stephanie Beck, ED at Peace Arch Hospital Foundation (copied here) to discuss how we can support the emergent need, and we have agreed we will work together to spearhead this initiative.

What we are needing -

1. Expertise - to support drafting a plan/proposal that can be quickly implemented, support by individuals with experience in the health sector and who understand those needs incl. hospital level cleaning protocols, cooking/food preparation, supplies/materials needed, safety protocols - things that we need to know to keep people safe and healthy etc. People with hospital planning, facilities management etc. an asset.
2. Contacts - people who might be able to provide donations, in kind contributions, linens, commercial cleaning, food, etc., the things that would allow us to maintain a safe site for the sector, and the people that will be working to ensure they have an alternative/respite space during the Covid-19 crisis, following health recommendations incl. how to ensure social distancing at the site ex. Ratios to consider
3. Risk Management - Individuals who can help us with our planning to ensure the safest parameters possible, knowing there is urgency and a need for responsiveness in this unprecedented situation.

  Thank you for your consideration,

Penny E. Bradley
Executive Director
Alexandra Neighbourhood House
604.535.0015 ext 227
pbradley@alexhouse.net

(preferred pronouns - she, her, hers)

www.alexhouse.net

X

NNPBC Board Chair, Sherri Kensall receives her COVID-19 vaccine

"On January 13th, I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I work as a point of care nurse in Vancouver Coastal, but I got the vaccine for my Dad. It makes me feel great that getting the vaccine adds an extra layer of protection for Dad, but of course I'll still wear my PPE when I see him tomorrow and beyond. Thanks to all the LTC staff and all they are doing to keep folks safe. Ensuring essential visitors to long-term care are vaccinated is a smart part of our provincial strategy and I was very impressed with how public health organized the clinic- it was a smooth operation! It was also amazing to see fabulous BC nurses in action, hard at work providing vaccine. Thanks to everyone who made this an easy process."
 
 

X

X

X

X