Topics

• Human Trafficking
• Nurses in Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Violence Prevention

NURS 418 WB - A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Module 14: Nursing Practice and Violence Prevention

Nurses, Forensics Nursing, and Advocacy for Violence Prevention

There are numerous opportunities in healthcare settings for nurses to intervene with victims and perpetrators of violence in the treatment and/or management of violence related health concerns.

• Existing and potential roles for nurses in violence prevention cover the range of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. 
  
• Violence prevention at any level (primary, secondary, tertiary) requires a multi-level approach that clearly recognizes the social determinants of health that are such powerful predictors of future violence.
  
• Policy and advocacy work is performed by nurses in any and all specialties.
  
• Nursing roles include, but are not limited to:
• School health
• See National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
• Mental health
• See American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)
• Addictions
• See International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA)
• Forensics
• See International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN)
• Public health
• See American Public Health Association (APHA)
• Primary care
• See American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN)
• See American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
  

• Nurses and Firearm Safety: Nurses have critical roles to play in the prevention and treatment of persons who are victims of gun violence, but also in prevention of mass shootings.
• Nurses in any setting can screen and educate on safety for firearms in the home. This can prevent accidental death, suicide, homicide across the lifespan.
• Screening and educating youth and families around gun safety and intervening to prevent violent behaviors are key.

• School nurses are uniquely positioned to reduce and prevent youth and other forms of community violence. The National Association of School Nurses publishes numerous position statements and fact sheets about how nurses  can use their expertise to promote safe school environments.
• School nurses assist students in developing problem-solving and conflict resolution techniques, coping and anger management skills, and positive self-images.
• School nurses use their expertise to assist students in developing problem-solving and conflict resolution techniques, coping and anger management skills, and positive self-images.
• The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program has reduced child abuse and neglect, maternal behavior problems due to alcohol and drug abuse, maternal arrests, and children's alcohol abuse and arrests at age 15.

 

What is forensic nursing?

REQUIRED READING:  Download Ch. 1 of the Core Curriculum for Forensic Nurses (e-Book available through HS/HSL Library) and read pp. 15-24 and pp. 30-50.  Waldman, J. & Neil, K. (2016).  Introduction (Ch. 1) in  Core Curriculum for Forensic Nursing.  Bonnie Price & Kathleen Maguire (Eds.). International Association of Forensic Nurses, Wolters-Kluwer Health. ISBN 978-1-4511-9323-7.

• KEY DEFINITIONS:
• Forensic: Pertaining or related to the law.
• Forensic nursing: “The practice of nursing globally where health and legal systems intersect” (IAFN & ANA, 2009).
• Forensic science: “The application of science to the law”; encompasses a number of discrete disciplines that promote the application of science to the legal system (Lynch & Duval, 2011; p. 10).
• NOTE THAT:
• In the United States, the term “forensic” typically conjures an association with the deceased. The term actually refers to debate in courts of law (p. 17)
• Most people are familiar with the role of forensic examiners in death investigation, such as coroners and medical examiners (MEs).
• 1983:  First two articles specifically addressing forensic medicine and the care of patients in the emergency department (ED) were published in the US (Mittleman, Goldberg, & Waksman, 1983; Smialek, 1983).
• Both articles emphasized the need for recognition and preservation of evidence for patients presenting to the ED. 
• The focus was on patients who were treated, but who subsequently died in the hospital.
• Until the 1980s, the issues of the living forensic patient had been largely neglected in the US.
• In contrast, this medical practice had existed in Europe and Great Britain for more than two centuries (McLay, 1990). With the publication of Forensic Sciences: The Clinical or Living Aspects, however, William Eckert brought the living forensic patient to the forefront of contemporary medicine in the United States (Eckert, 1990; Lynch, 2006). Eckert’s work is the basis for the concept of applying forensic techniques to living patients.
• In 1986, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences published its first article dedicated to living – or clinical – forensic medicine. This new interest opened the door for other medical professionals, including emergency nurses.

 

BENEFITS OF JOINING A PROFESSIONAL NURSING ASSOCIATION

Nursing associations can provide new nurse graduates with the resources they need to find, get, and keep a job.

• They serve as advocating bodies, giving a voice to their members on critical issues affecting nurses in the workplace today, such as changes in BSN nursing salaries or being overworked.
  
• Nursing associations also provide valuable information on the current state of the nursing profession as well as changes on the horizon.
  
• Networking, educational resources, and opportunities to enrich your resume are other useful benefits of nursing association membership.
  
• Many employers and educational institutions know the value of nursing association membership and will look for this on your resume.
  
• Whether local issues or global policy are your passion, membership in a nursing association can open the avenue to do more in nursing than just work.

Adapted from Michelle Davelaar, Top 5 Nursing Associations Every New Grad/Nurse Should Join.

• Specific Nursing Associations
• American Nurses Association (ANA): The ANA was established in 1911 and remains one of the largest and most powerful American nursing associations today. ANA is the only professional nursing association that uniformly represents all 3.4 million registered nurses in the U.S. In addition to advocacy, the ANA has established a Code of Ethics as well as a Scopes and Standards of Nursing Practice that every RN should be familiar with prior to the first day on the job. The ANA also provides numerous continuing education opportunities, access to three professional journals, a career center that offers career counseling, and group discounts on personal and professional liability insurance.
• Sigma Theta Tau International: Also known as Sigma, this honor society encourages student membership, but welcomes graduated nurses as well. A global nursing association founded in 1922, it recognizes excellence in nursing, funds nursing research, and provides members with numerous networking, leadership, and growth opportunities through its numerous local chapters, online forums, and biennial conferences. New grads can also access mentoring services to gain direction and garner essential advice during the job-seeking process. Sigma represents 135,000 nurses in over 90 different countries.
• International Council of Nurses (ICN): The ICN is a global coalition of over 130 national nursing associations that represents more than 20 million nurses around the world. Founded in 1899, the ICN works to promote the profession of nursing and shape health policy on a global scale.
• Specialty Nursing Organizations: Specialty nursing associations can offer you the opportunity to learn more about the field of medicine you’re interested in – and a coalition of like-minded nurses for solidarity and advocacy for your patient population or professional interests. These groups provide more in-depth educational opportunities and job searches that match your specific area of interest.

• ANA is a friend and ally to 4 million registered nurses in the U.S., throughout all specialties and practice settings. Together, we have the power to advance the nursing profession and create a health care environment in which nurses can thrive.
• ANA works w/federal lawmakers to advocate on nursing priorities.
• State Nursing Associations monitor nursing-related state legislation

• Find your State Nursing Association at this link:
• https://www.nursingworld.org/membership/find-my-state/
• Maryland Nurses Association (MNA): 
• https://mna.nursingnetwork.com/ 
• MNA also provides access to local educational conferences, networking opportunities, and job searches.

• The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides information on national nursing issues and policies
• NCSBN is a not-for-profit organization whose U.S. members include the nursing regulatory bodies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories.
• NCSBN is an independent organization through which nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting public health, safety and welfare, including the development of nursing licensure examinations.
• YOU are responsible for knowing the specific nursing scope of practice and other nursing regulations in the state where you are working (or plan to work).
• Here is the link to the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON):

 

Optional: The following links are related to specific advocacy organizations resources just for nurses for you to really get your hands dirty in advocacy work:

• Search the Web and #nursetwitter for nurses engaged in a case you care about!
• Nurses for Justice Baltimore: 

• https://www.facebook.com/Nurses4JusticeBmore/

• National Nurses United Environmental Justice—check out other campaigns: 

• https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/environmental-justice

• American Nurse Advocacy Institute: 

• https://www.mnorn.org/index.asp?SEC=A5968B66-911E-416E-A769-91D0536314AC&Type=B_BASIC

How to contact elected officials (local, state, national)

• https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

 

Take Home Messages:

• Policy and advocacy work is performed by nurses in any and all specialties.
  
• Nurses’ voices are powerful!
• Many organizations have established policy statements and are now advocating for implementation of these recommendations to reduce violence in all forms and at all levels of prevention.

 

In closing:  We would like to emphasize that any nurse role or setting provides you with an important perspective on the problems, risk factors, and prevention measures across the continuum of violence. Very few nursing curricula offer a course dedicated to violence, so do not underestimate your knowledge and expertise on the topic. We urge you to become even more educated on this complex and growing problem, use the public health approaches we have discussed in this course, and advocate for change on the macro and micro level to mitigate the epidemic of violence locally and globally.  

You can make a difference! Thank you for taking this course.