Mindfulness-Based Self-Care for Forensic Nurses: A Professional Lifestyle Approach.

ABSTRACT: Forensic nurses providing care to patients who are victims or offenders of abuse, trauma, or violence often face enormous challenges in their daily practice, leading to emotional stress, vicarious traumatization, and burnout, and potentially reducing the quality of patient care. Embracing mindfulness as an ongoing method of self-care can have an array of benefits for forensic nurses to prevent burnout and improve their well-being and quality of patient care. Existing literature supports the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions, as self-care practices, in improving many positive health outcomes among nurses working in a variety of healthcare settings. Mindfulness qualities, such as open awareness, attention to detail, nonjudgment, emotional regulation, compassion, and empathy, can contribute to forensic nurses' well-being and the quality of patient care. Mindfulness is a way of living; thus, formal and informal mindful self-care tools integrated into daily nursing practice can result in better outcomes and work satisfaction among nurses. This article discusses the potential benefits of mindfulness and practical ways to integrate mindfulness tools into forensic nursing practice. Incorporating mindful self-care practices should be a goal for consideration for the contemporary forensic nursing profession at large. Further intervention research is recommended to identify the mechanism of how mindfulness can benefit forensic nurses practicing in highly challenging work environments.

When a Child Is Found Dead: The Role of the Forensic Nurse Death Investigator and Psychosocial Impact for Parents.

The traumatic death of a child is an immediately life-changing event. In all cases, a parent who finds that their child has died suddenly and violently is no longer the same person. Early in the chaotic aftermath of this journey, they will likely be disoriented and affectively numb because their sense of an otherwise predicted life trajectory has been destroyed in an instant. Subsequently, early in the arrival of the forensic nurse death investigator, there will be multidimensional challenges to be strategically navigated during scene investigation while simultaneously ensuring awareness of psychosocial issues that will have an enduring impact on an adaptive trajectory of bereavement for a surviving parent.

The Effects of Intimate Partner Violence on Children: Navigating Therapeutic Assessment and Intervention.

Over 5 million American children are estimated to be exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) annually. The past decade has seen a surge in research, assessment, and related interventions regarding children and violence. Contemporary practice guidelines continue to expand relative to the wide range of violence that a child might be exposed to, particularly noting that children who have experienced one type of violence, such as physical abuse, are at great risk for also experiencing other forms of violence. Effects on children exposed to IPV are potentially catastrophic and can be influenced, by not only the number of exposures, but also the protective factors that are available to a child when violence is encountered. Treatment should be individualized and appropriate for the developmental level of the child. It is also essential to identify and include the child's non-abusive parent into the process to support the child and related treatment.

Intersection of Human Trafficking and the Emergency Department.

Health care is being challenged both nationally and globally as a result of the significant expansion of human trafficking (HT). Every day, people are being bought, sold, and smuggled like modern-day slaves. Victims are used solely for the purposes of sexual exploitation, labor, and services. HT is a transnational criminal enterprise that recognizes neither boundaries nor borders. The frequency of HT is nondeterminable. There are no absolute documented statistics that show a prevalence of HT, as most of it is covert. Many victims of HT go unnoticed and are captives in plain sight. ED nurses are frequently the front line of defense for those victims who are rarely permitted to interface with the health care system. ED nurses may be the HT victim's only limited contact with the outside world. At the forefront of caring for victims of trafficking, it is integral for ED nurses to be able to recognize the signs of trafficking, have an awareness of where to report any suspicious cases, and to be knowledgeable about the services that are available to victims of HT.

An evolutionary concept analysis of school violence: from bullying to death.

School violence has evolved into an identifiably pervasive public health problem. Adverse consequences of school violence vary from bullying to death. In 2007, 457,700 youth (ages 12-18) were victims of serious crimes with 34% occurring on school grounds or on the way to school. A concept analysis of school violence can expand and enhance awareness of the pervasive phenomenon of school violence. Rodgers and Knafl (1993) evolutionary concept analysis method was used to provide a guiding framework for examination of school violence. Related manuscripts from the extant interdisciplinary school violence literature were obtained from relevant health science databases, the Education Resources Information Center, and various governmental and specialty websites within the contemporary time frame of 2000-2010. Analysis revealed the enormous scope and complexity of the problem of school violence including bullying, physical fighting, weapon carrying, alcohol/substance use and street gang presence on school property, school-associated violent death, safe schools legislation, and violence prevention strategies. Forensic nurses across practice settings are uniquely positioned to intervene to improve health of these youth through identification, assessment, treatment, and referral.

Examining childhood bullying and adolescent suicide: implications for school nurses.

Adolescent suicide is a preventable tragedy yet is still the third leading cause of death in young people of age 10-24. Contrary to the idea that childhood bullying is a normal part of growing up or a rite of passage, it is now correlated with adolescent suicidality. An integrative review of the contemporary, extant literature was conducted to examine the following question: Are adolescents who have been involved in childhood bullying or cyberbullying as victim, offender, or victim/offender at greater risk for suicidality than those who have not. It is important to empower school nurses with current and evidence-based information regarding childhood bullying and examine empirical science and tools to effectively address the current serious problem of adolescent suicide risk assessment and intervention.

Enhancing assessment of interpersonal violence (IPV) pregnancy-related homicide risk within nursing curricula.

Pregnancy and motherhood traditionally represent evolution of the next generation; yet, contemporary research and analyses confirm that this time can also be manifested in fear by the expectant mother within an environment of battering, cruelty, physical and emotional abuse, and sexual assault. Often to the surprise of many healthcare providers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have consistently reported that Interpersonal Violence (IPV) related homicide is a leading cause of traumatic death among new and expectant mothers. In spite of these staggering statistical and anecdotal findings, universal screening for violence during pregnancy continues to be minimal. Forensic nurses might be prompted to respond to the consequences of violence and its resultant negative effects on expectant mothers by strategically incorporating systematic and consistent assessment into foundational nursing curricula regarding IPV as a leading risk factor for injury or death.

When intimate partner violence against women and HIV collide: challenges for healthcare assessment and intervention.

UNLABELLED: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) both constitute major public health issues that impact the overall health of women. IPV, including sexual assault, remains a persistent public health concern that has proven to be both difficult and significantly dangerous to prevent and treat. Based on data from UNAIDS more than 14.5 million women were living with HIV by the end of 2005. IPV and HIV are often interrelated. Exposure to IPV has been associated with an increased risk for contracting HIV and women who are living with HIV may be more likely to become victims of IPV. IMPLICATIONS: comprehensive care and services have to be offered in the context of where women seek health care. Screening and effective intervention for IPV are essential components of HIV-related services including prevention programming, voluntary counseling and testing, and treatment. Including IPV-related services into the context of HIV-related services delivers the message that violence is not a taboo topic in the health-care setting.