PIPD Update May 15, 2026

Happy Nurses Week to everyone! I’m so thankful for all the treats, snacks, and goodies we enjoyed this week — food truly is my love language.

More importantly, I want everyone to know that the hard work you put in every day does not go unnoticed. Thank you for showing up, picking up extra shifts, for being a nurse, for choosing to work here, for the incredible interprofessional teamwork, and for the personal sacrifices and life choices you make to show up for our patients.

Your dedication is appreciated on so many levels, and we are incredibly grateful for all that you do.

 Master schedule discussion – I have scheduled a meeting with Sun Local 75 on May 21st from 1400-1500 to review the new lines and the related master schedule changes.  Room 2395 has been booked for anyone who is onsite or would like to attend in person. I will also send out a Teams meeting invite so everyone has the option to join virtually.

Tidbits:

·         No Ronald Mcdonald lunches May 18^th.

·         Sharon is on holidays and will return May 27^th

·         Friendly reminder that you can not do partial trades.

·         We have a new senior staff scheduler! She comes with high regards and has experience.

·         Welcome back Janelle H!

w    MEMO

DATE: May 13^th 2026  

TO: Saskatoon and Area Hospitals and all Wards, All Laboratory staff                                                    

The SCC Laboratory Information System (LIS) will be unavailable due to a scheduled upgrade on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 11:30 hrs to approximately 23:30 hrs. - approximately 9-12 hours

During this time:

• No access to LIS will be available.
• Do not place orders in SCM or LIS starting at 10:45 hrs. Use downtime procedures only.
• Laboratory results completed during downtime will not appear in EMRs, SCM, or eViewer until recovery is complete.
• Significant delays in routine testing and result reporting are expected. STAT and Urgent testing will be prioritized.

Downtime Requirements:

• Include the following on all paper requisitions:
• Patient location/ward
• Ward phone number
• Ward fax number

·         Ensure 10 patient registration labels are available with requisitions when requesting phlebotomy collections.

Phlebotomy Contact Information:

• Continue to page Phlebotomy via Switchboard for STAT/urgent/timed blood collections.

·         Phlebotomy will not receive SCM orders during downtime. For timed or urgent collections, contact:

o    RUH: 2173

o    JPCH: 6267

o    JPCH ED: Continue to vocera “Stat Phlebotomist” for STAT collections.

Additional Information

• Limit add-on requests and non-urgent testing where possible.
• Please minimize phone inquiries during the outage.
• Several hours will be required following restoration to resume normal operations.
• Please ensure departmental downtime procedures are reviewed with staff prior to the outage.

The SCC Laboratory Information System (LIS) will be unavailable due to a scheduled upgrade on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 11:30 hrs to approximately 23:30 hrs

Did you know?

ARO screening and sending swabs (for MRSA & VRE) is a Medical Directive. This is the same as a physician order and must be completed with all admissions including transfers from PICU, NICU, and post op patients. Not completing the ARO screening and not sending swabs is as accountable as not following a physician order.

Where does the ARO form live in the chart? It should be placed in the order section of the chart near the admission orders.

Updated RN Levels

Care on our unit is complex and high acuity. RN Levels have changed to reflect the needs of the unit. 
Level 1 - new hire RN or Grad Nurse
Level 2 - Observation/High Acuity trained RN
Level 3 - Oncology & Transplant trained RN
Level 4 - Charge Nurse & Resource Nurse

These changes have been sent to Staff Scheduling. 

The revised version is posted on the huddle board — take a look when you have a chance!

CNE Update

NJ tubes

If an NJ tube (placed by IR) is being used as an NG, that tube is still weighted at the tip once the stylet is removed. This is not a tube nurses can re-insert if it comes out - it is an RNSP PIPD is not certified for. If the tube comes out, even if it is being used as an NG, check with the physician to either a) insert a normal NG tube; or b) patient to go to IR for a NJ insertion.

Lansoprazole

Oral solutions of lansoprazole are stocked in the Pyxis Fridge. To remove a dose of oral lansoprazole solution, you MUST select the medication from the patient's med list. DO NOT use "patient specific med fridge". 

    This is just like the epidural bag and lorazepam. You must select the actual medication from the patient's medications listed in Pyxis. If you do not do this, Pharmacy will not know when to restock the fridge.

Updated information for Falls & Entanglement, Strangulation & Entrapment (ESE):

The Universal S.A.F.E. guidelines were not encompassing of neonates/infants. There is a new Neonatal Infant Universal S.A.F.E. poster. This will be added to the Falls Binder in each unit.

The G-tube nurses are now on SCM starting May 19th.  

Please refer to this poster for all information.  

Posters are located around unit and on the S-drive in the Q-card folder.

SUN Unit Rep Update

You are heard - and I will do my best to advocate your very valid frustrations forward to the Local. If you have not seen my post on Facebook, here's the deal:

With the awesome increase in baseline staffing for DXs & NXs, new lines will have to be created. Currently, the Local is saying that the entire master schedule will need to be fully remade, and each nurse will have to pick a new line. If you are not in favour of the master being fully remade and having to pick a new line, please sign this petition by May 19th: https://form.jotform.com/261305975658266

If you are fine with picking a new line, then do not sign the petition.

I do not know if this will work but I will present this information to the Local next week.

Please feel free to reach out to me or David P. if you have questions or concerns.

Tanzly