As our stores and clinics re-open and our team welcomes you back to Nightingale, we want to give you a heads up regarding what you can expect during this “new normal”. Our stores have been fully re-open as of May 19th for in-store pickups and purchases. Our NSWOC (Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence) clinics will re-open at all locations the week of June 1st for in person consultations – by appointment only. Although the procedure may look a little different, we are still here to help you feel your best. Here are some things to keep in mind about our clinics.
NSWOC Clinics
Please note that consults with a NSWOC are by appointment only, and please wait outside the store until your appointment time. In this case, it is better to come right on time, and not early. Please do not bring family members or friends with you unless it is absolutely necessary, as we want to keep the number of people in the stores to a minimum. You can expect to be asked to wear a mask and to wash your hands prior to your appointment. Your NSWOC will also be wearing full personal protective equipment including a face mask, face shield or goggles, gloves and a gown – these are the same friendly faces behind the shield, just with a new look! In between client visits, the Nightingale clinics will be cleaned according to BC CDC guidelines.
Appointments by Phone
Even once our clinics are open for appointments on June 1st, we will continue to offer and encourage telephone consultations indefinitely. You are welcome to book a consult over the phone if that is your preference, or it at all possible. If you are unsure whether you need to be seen in-person or not, your NSWOC can help you decide over the phone if you will need to come in to a clinic. NSWOCs are able to solve lots of issues over the phone! Before your phone appointment, you will receive an email asking for details and photos. If you do not have email, or cannot send in photos, that is okay – but if you are able to send this information, it can be very helpful for your NSWOC to better understand what the issue is. When it is time for your appointment, please note that your phone call will likely come from an ‘unknown’ caller and not a Nightingale number.
Please do book your appointments through the Nightingale stores, and continue to do so as necessary. It is better to book an appointment when you notice a problem rather than to wait until the problem becomes more severe, whether because you are nervous about coming into the clinics or don’t want to bother the NSWOCs for help. Check out our blog on When to Visit a NSWOC if you’re wondering when it is time to book an appointment. Please remember we are doing our best and following all BC guidelines to keep our clinics clean and everyone safe. Your NSWOCs are very much looking forward to seeing you again!
