NCJ Number
225488
Journal
Journal of Forensic Nursing Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 157-165
Date Published
2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Results are presented from a pilot study of trauma nurses assessing their knowledge of forensic practice.
Abstract
Competent forensic practice should be a standard of care in the trauma setting. Although the majority of nurses who participated in the study had some background related to forensics, they felt additional education would be beneficial. Forensic protocols were also viewed as important in the practice of trauma care. The nurses were amenable to applying forensic principles in their practice, but they need to have adequate knowledge and tools to do so effectively. Additional forensic education and standardized forensic protocols could be a major step toward improvements in forensic practice with trauma patients. Research shows that at times in practice, all registered nurses encounter issues related to forensics including violence, injury and prevention of injury, victimization, abuse, and exploitation. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess levels of trauma nurse knowledge of forensic practice in a level II trauma center. Thirty-eight trauma nurses completed a questionnaire related to their knowledge of forensic practice. Tables, figures, and references