We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
FORENSIC CLINICAL NURSES IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS: AN EMERGING NEED FOR NEW ZEALAND.
- Authors
Donaldson, Andrea
- Abstract
Aim: This article reports on a systematic review of the literature, undertaken to gather evidence to support the establishment of clinical forensic nurse specialist roles in New Zealand emergency departments. Background: Violence is a significant and increasing health problem in New Zealand. One consequence of this is the need for New Zealand nurses to be able to recognise forensic situations in emergency departments and to apply clinical forensic principles and practices. Method: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken, using the Medline, Ovid, EBSCOHost and Proquest databases, to synthesise the findings of 23 internationally published articles on the role, function and purpose of the clinical forensic nurse in emergency departments. A thematic approach was used to analyse the information in the articles. Findings: Themes that emerged focused on the qualities and skills forensic nurses possess, and the level of specialist knowledge required to ensure patients receive the best medico-legal care. Key qualities and skills clinical forensic nurses possess include effectively identifying, collecting, documenting and preserving evidence from patients who are victims of violence, as well as educating and mentoring nursing colleagues and other health professionals about forensic evidence. These nurses require specialist knowledge to enable them to care for some of the most challenging patients, many with complex psychosocial, psychological and physical health-care needs, all while upholding ethical and legal principles. Conclusion: A role for clinical forensic nurse specialists in New Zealand emergency departments is clearly indicated. Emergency departments also lack protocols to support nurses caring for and treating victims of violence or unexplained death. The review also found that nurses lack the confidence, skills and education needed to meet medico-legal obligations to their patients and to fulfil their duty to "do no harm".
- Subjects
NEW Zealand; HOSPITAL emergency services; MEDLINE; NURSES; SYSTEMATIC reviews; FORENSIC nursing; OCCUPATIONAL roles
- Publication
Kaitiaki Nursing Research, 2019, Vol 10, Issue 1, p54
- ISSN
1179-772X
- Publication type
Article