PIPD Update Dec 12, 2025

 From Sharon and Kelly:

SOS - RN Needs over Christmas

Any help offered will be considered. Some of our days are staffed well and others (Christmas and Christmas eve) are not - we may need to look at doing some VQ’ing to balance things out. Please reach out with any offers. Christmas Eve is only 13 days away! 

Please check Pyxis at end of every shift:

There are multiple outstanding narcotic discrepancies on our Pyxis stations.   For best practice, discrepancies should be resolved at the end of every shift. 

Theme Days: 🎄🎅

We are wanting to add some fun to December and so thought we could have some theme days on Fridays:

Dec 18 – Christmas accessory day – hats, earrings, socks, antler etc.

Dec 23 – Christmas sweater day or wear green and red!

New toys!

Child life have purchased a ton of new toys! They are in unit 4 for isolated kiddos. Please ensure these get back to unit 4 to be cleaned so they can be returned to the cupboard in Unit 4.

Theatre

The child life team would like to share with nursing that we can book the theatre in December for special movie times with a fun treat basket donated by the foundation.  Any family interested in booking the theatre can contact recreational therapy at any time outside of regular scheduled programs.

Phototherapy

Please keep track of date and time phototherapy is done. This is important for physicians to note on discharge summary.

Linens and blankets

We are very short of linens and blankets. Please be mindful of this when grabbing blankets for personal use. We have sent in a request for more linen for rooms and pj’s.

Please see poster attachment from Environmental services for important information!

Breaks

Please ensure breaks are being taken with consideration of other staff on unit. Having staff unavailable can make for significant challenges on the ward.

Communication

We heard you and will send blog info out via email as well going forward : )

*Please ensure you are emailing both Kelly and Sharon with questions/concerns to ensure communication is as smooth as possible.

Have a great weekend!

Sharon and Kelly 

A meal of appreciation on Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, when many families gather at home, Saskatchewan Health Authority staff continue providing care to patients and residents across the province.

To recognize this dedication, Nutrition and Food Services prepares a special Christmas meal for employees working on December 25—clinical teams and support staff alike, including Environmental Services, Diagnostics, Lab, Pharmacy and more.

“At a time when many people are home with loved ones, our staff are here ensuring care continues,” said Stephanie Cook, Executive Director, Nutrition and Food Services. “Offering a Christmas meal is a small but meaningful way to show gratitude.”

Large sites serve a full turkey dinner with dessert and a vegetarian option.

2026 claims pre-authorization hold set to begin

Benefit plan members should be aware that pre-authorization requests will be temporarily slowed down.

As the end of the year approaches, health and dental pre-authorization requests will be held from December 15, 2025, until mid-January 2026 before they are assessed and approved. Canada Life will begin processing pre-authorizations in mid-January in the order they were received and will work diligently to be caught up by January 31, 2025.  

For full details, please visit the 3sHealthwebsite.

Are you eligible for SHEPP?

Visit the SHEPP website for more information. 

Annual vacation process for Saskatchewan Union of Nurses

Vacation leave provides employees with valuable time to rest and recharge, supporting overall health and well-being.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority would like to remind all Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) employees of the Annual Vacation request process and key dates, as outlined in the applicable collective agreements.

Key dates:

• Annual Vacation requests are due February 1
• Approvals posted by March 1 or earlier, where possible

How to submit a request:

• Annual vacation request forms are available from your manager or your local Human Resources Staff Scheduling office. Please submit your completed form by the deadline to support timely review and scheduling.

Approval guidelines:

• Operations managers with Saskatchewan Union of Nurses staff are responsible for posting site/unit annual vacation approval guidelines by January. Guidelines should outline expectations such as replacement requirements, maximum approvals per day/shift/job classification, and any unit-specific operational considerations.

Posting clear guidelines helps ensure a consistent, transparent, and timely process for all employees. 

Saskatoon Safety Centre hours of operation changes

Starting January 11, 2026, the Safety Centre phone lines will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, including statutory holidays.

Saskatoon staff can submit a patient safety incident report electronically 24/7 through the SHA Intranet > Forms and Policies > Forms > Patient Safety and Experience forms. We encourage electronic reporting whenever possible.

For staff safety incidents, Saskatoon staff may leave a voice message outside operating hours; calls will be returned when the centre opens at 7 a.m.

CNE Update

NEW file on S-Drive Q-Cards: "Neurology". It has information on the Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS). More information to come.

D10NS is now stocked on the special IV fluid cart in Unit 2. This is to be ordered by Twila. If you have 4 bags left in the spot, please let Twila know. Currently, it takes about 2-3 days for this special order item to come in.