New and Updated RCP Resources/Reports – RCP has been working on the development of new education and practice resources as well as updating existing ones. These clinical resources are intended to support perinatal and newborn care provider practice. Several are highlighted below:
RCP 2022-2024 Report - Explore the latest advancements in reproductive care with RCP’s 2022-2024 Highlights Report. This comprehensive update covers key initiatives, clinical reviews, and insights from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database. Learn about clinical practice resources, education programs, and provincial initiatives shaping perinatal care. Discover our strategic planning efforts, website and branding updates, and additional initiatives driving innovation.
Perinatal Orientation eLearning Series on LMS: Two of the RCP eLearning Series Modules are now accessible on the Provincial Learning Management System (LMS). The modules are easily accessed by searching RCP in the LMS catalogue.
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Antenatal Assessment and Care – the aim of this course is to equip nurses and other health care providers with the foundational knowledge necessary to conduct comprehensive antenatal assessments of the pregnant person and family, identify potential risk factors and warning signs during pregnancy, provide evidence-informed nursing care in relation to common perinatal health concerns during pregnancy, and promote access to the resources needed for health during pregnancy. -
Labour and Birth - the aim of this course is to equip nurses with the foundational knowledge necessary to conduct comprehensive labour assessments, provide nursing care that reflects an understanding of the physiological and psychosocial process of labour and birth, and collaborate with their health care team to identify and respond to potential complications during childbirth.
RCP OAT Continuum of Care Practice Resource - RCP is excited to share that the Continuum of Care for pregnant persons diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder: Comprehensive Summary and Clinical Toolkit is now available on our website. This comprehensive summary will serve as an accessible, inclusive, and evidence-based resource that informs care provider practice and education across Nova Scotia in caring for persons who are diagnosed with opioid use disorder, their newborns, and their families. The resource was created using a diverse, interdisciplinary team, including patient partners, to ensure the practice guidance and recommendations within the comprehensive summary align with and enhance care provider clinical practice and the patient’s personal experience. To access go to: the RCP website.
Perinatal Care Providers Re: RCP Nova Scotia Prenatal Record (PNR) – Since the revision of the RCP Nova Scotia Prenatal Record in 2022 the RCP PNR has been available for use in paper format. RCP is happy to share that the PNR has been developed and is available in both Accuro and Telus MedAccess; the electronic medical record (EMR) systems in use by many perinatal care providers in NS. The PNR provides standardized care guidance and serves as both a documentation and communication tool for antenatal care. It is recommended that care providers download the 2022 version of the PNR as per the established process for each of the EMRs and begin to utilize it in their practice (if not already doing so).
National Rourke Baby Record – The Rourke Baby Record (RBR) functions as a knowledge mobilization tool to help clinicians keep current with the overwhelming amount of evolving relevant research findings. It has become a Canadian standard to guide the preventive health care of newborns, infants, and children from birth to age 5 years. The RBR is affiliated with the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), and is endorsed by the CPS, the CFPC, and Dietitians of Canada (DC).
In 2024 the Rourke Baby Record was updated and is available in various formats along with guides and notes for download from the Rourke Baby Record website. The Rourke Baby Record website has also provided RBR Interactive Guides. These helpful guides provide a summary of the current evidence and relevant resources to support each topic. The RBR will be developed and available for use within both the electronic medical records currently in use by care providers practicing in Nova Scotia (Accuro & Telus MedAccess).
Sign-Up for Smart Parent - The IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health Public Health have launched the SmartParent pilot program. SmartParent is a free evidence-based text messaging program that sends information to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, timed and tailored to the specific stage of pregnancy. We are requesting your support as our healthcare and community partners in the pilot program in sharing the details of this valuable prenatal resource with colleagues, patients, and families. Additional information is available for parents on the IWK website and for care providers on the SmartParent website. SmartParent also provides posters which can be downloaded and posted in public spaces and online. Please encourage your perinatal patients and clients to sign up for SmartParent so they can benefit from the information shared throughout this transformational time in their lives. Enrollment can be completed by texting the keyword ‘Baby’ to 12323 or by going to www.smartparent.ca and clicking ‘Enroll Now’.
Professional/health-related upcoming awareness events/days:
April:
• Oncology Nursing Day - April 1
• World Autism Awareness Day - April 2
• Green Shirt Day - April 7
• World Health Day - April 7
• International Day of Pink - April 9
• World Chagas Disease Day - April 14
• Administrative Professionals Day - April 23
• Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) - April 23
• World Malaria Day - April 25
• National Day of Mourning - April 28
• Medical Laboratory Technologists Week/ National Medical Laboratory Week - April 13–19
• Administrative Professionals Week - April 20–26
• National Organ and Tissue and Awareness Donation Week - April 20–26
• World Immunization Week - April 24–30
• National Volunteer Week - April 27 – May 3
• Cesarean Awareness Month
• Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month
• Oral Health Month
• Sikh Heritage Month
• World Autism Month
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If you have any questions or comments, please contact the RCP office at rcp@iwk.nshealth.ca.
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