ABSTRACT
The critical care nurse encounters victims of violence and abuse in the clinical setting. From these patients or from their visitors, evidence can be collected that, when used in legal proceedings, may interrupt the cycle of violence if a perpetrator is identified and found guilty by a court of law. Evidence may be tangible or intangible, and includes what one hears, smells, sees, and touches. This article discusses proper evidence recognition, collection, and preservation. With an understanding of proper forensic techniques, the critical care nurse can be an outstanding patient advocate.
Subject(s)
Critical Care , Data Collection/methods , Forensic Medicine/methods , Nurse Clinicians , Specimen Handling/methods , Violence , Clinical Competence , Data Collection/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Nursing Assessment/legislation & jurisprudence , Nursing Assessment/methods , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Specimen Handling/nursing , Violence/legislation & jurisprudence , Violence/prevention & control , Violence/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
1. Forensic challenges are faced by every nurse, and the bulk of these challenges are presented by living patients. 2. Because the nurse frequently is the first health care worker encountering living patients, successful arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of crime and violence may depend on the nurse's recognition of the problem and documentation. 3. Ignorance of problem detection and ignorance of what data and evidence to collect have resulted in the inability to prosecute, and perpetrators of abuse and violence are permitted to continue--and even escalate--their acts.
Subject(s)
Crime Victims , Forensic Medicine/methods , Specialties, Nursing/methods , Specimen Handling/nursing , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Autopsy/legislation & jurisprudence , Autopsy/methods , Cause of Death , Crime Victims/legislation & jurisprudence , Documentation/methods , Documentation/standards , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Patient Advocacy , Specimen Handling/methods , Specimen Handling/standards , Violence/legislation & jurisprudence , Violence/prevention & controlABSTRACT
The lack of research-based literature and of research models for validating nursing diagnoses results in some ambiguity in research efforts. Research must, however, move forward if there is to be progress in differentiating nursing and medical diagnostic models and use of nursing diagnoses to improve communication among nurses. Operational definitions of nursing diagnosis terminology are essential to continue work in validating nursing diagnoses, particularly in the clinical setting. The diagnosis impaired physical mobility was found to be an appropriate diagnosis for rehabilitation patients. Continued study and refinement of etiologies and defining characteristics is needed.
