As the CST-Cerner roll-out continues across clinics at BC Children’s and BC Women’s Hospitals, more researchers are utilizing CST to support their hospital-based study activities.  

This message serves as a reminder that medications and research billable tests administered by C+W Nursing staff must be ordered and documented in CST-Cerner. This is in accordance to Nursing Professional Practice guidelines and is also an institutional requirement. 

It is critically important that researchers comply with the requirements for patient documentation of study activities taking place within C+W clinics or clinical programs. This will  ensure: 

• Patient safety, regulatory compliance, and adherence to PHSA policies. 

• Clear communication and reduced confusion for frontline nursing and clerical staff in research-active clinics. 

• Prevention of protocol deviations, avoidance of unnecessary study delays, and adherence to expectations of ethical research conduct.  

Ordering medications and research billable tests can be done via a custom-built Research PowerPlan (CPOE) or manual Departmental Order Entry (DOE). The decision on whether a PowerPlan is needed will be made by the Research CIS and Research Pharmacist (if medication involved) or other appropriate program leader, based on the specific study protocol and workflow. Please note that this decision cannot be made by the research team.