ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) is the only nursing organization advancing the forensic nursing specialty. The organization seeks to advance the profession, and one mechanism for doing so is development of a research agenda. METHODS: The purpose of this action-based research study was to aid in the development of a forensic nursing research agenda. The study was carried out in two integral stages: (a) focus groups with IAFN members attending the annual conference and (b) reviewing posted IAFN member listserv material. RESULTS: The findings of this study identified similar gaps of other nursing specialties experiencing "growing pains," including role confusion and variation in educational preparation. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study will inform development of the IAFN 5-year research agenda to advance forensic nursing science and evidence-based practice.
Subject(s)
Forensic Nursing/organization & administration , Forensic Nursing/trends , Adult , Advisory Committees , Aged , Evidence-Based Practice , Female , Focus Groups , Forecasting , Forensic Nursing/education , Humans , Middle Aged , Needs Assessment , Nurse's Role , Nursing Research , Societies, Nursing , Young AdultABSTRACT
Life trauma is highly correlated with an increased risk of mortality from chronic disease. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an evidence-based approach to deliver healthcare in a way that recognizes and responds to the long-term health effects of the experience of trauma in patients' lives. Four essential features and six defining concepts delineate a TIC approach to healthcare. Nurses can realize the benefits and learn the tenets of TIC to deliver superior care to patients with chronic illness.
Subject(s)
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse/psychology , Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders/nursing , Adult , Christianity , Humans , Models, Nursing , Practice Patterns, Nurses' , Psychiatric NursingABSTRACT
In October 2004, a case of caregiver-fabricated illness in a child was identified in a children's hospital in the Midwest. This case report begins with a discussion and explanation of the various nomenclatures that have been used by the healthcare community such as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, factitious disorder by proxy, medical child abuse, and caregiver-fabricated illness in a child. A discussion of case facts is then presented, which includes key concepts that nurses should know regarding a diagnosis of caregiver-fabricated illness in a child and the interventions that should be taken.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Child Abuse/diagnosis , Mothers/psychology , Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy/diagnosis , Child , Child Abuse/prevention & control , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Mother-Child Relations , Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy/prevention & controlABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge level of nurse practitioners regarding symptoms of child sexual abuse in children with cognitive disabilities. A total sample of 43 nurse practitioners from two professional nurse practitioner organizations was surveyed to assess child sexual abuse symptoms identification in intellectually disabled children using a revised edition of the Child Sexual Abuse Knowledge Survey. Data collected showed nurse practitioners have deficits in identifying various parts of prepubescent female genitalia. The majority of nurse practitioners did not check genitalia in regular physical exams, did not feel competent to perform this type of evaluation, and were not aware of their professional organizations' position regarding checking for child sexual abuse. When assessing a child with an intellectual disability, nurse practitioners must accurately assess physical symptoms and behaviors that could have resulted from sexual abuse. Examining children for sexual abuse is a required duty of the nurse practitioner as evidenced by the position statements of the various professional organizations and nurse practitioners must be aware of their required scope of practice.
