Name
Chamberlain University
NR-442 Community Health Nursing
Prof. Name
Date
Forensic nursing is a specialized field of nursing that involves the assessment, evaluation, documentation, and treatment of trauma responses and injuries. Beyond clinical care, forensic nurses play a crucial role in communities by promoting violence prevention through education, legislative advocacy, and policy reforms. Additionally, forensic nurses serve as vital resources for anti-violence initiatives. They are trained to collect evidence and provide testimony in legal proceedings, which assists in prosecuting individuals who commit violent or abusive acts.
Occupational health and safety is a branch of public health that examines patterns of illnesses and injuries among workers and develops strategies to prevent them. The establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 marked a significant step toward ensuring safer workplaces. OSHA is responsible for creating and enforcing standards, providing training, outreach, education, and offering assistance to promote safe and healthful working conditions for employees.
Home health nursing extends the continuum of care by delivering health services within the patient’s home. Home health nurses perform assessments, provide direct care, and offer education that supports patient independence. The concept of continuum of care refers to an integrated system of health services that guides and tracks patients over time across various levels of intensity. This approach ensures patients receive comprehensive, ongoing, and coordinated care.
The following table outlines the types of home health agencies and their descriptions:
| Type of Agency | Description |
|---|---|
| Official agencies | Funded through local or state government and assist with community planning |
| Nonprofit agencies | Exempt from federal taxes |
| Proprietary agencies | Classified as for-profit agencies |
| Hospital-based agencies | Increased in number after the implementation of prospective payment systems |
| Certified agencies | Meet federal standards; typically serve elderly patients through Medicare |
The table below highlights the key differences between home health and hospice care:
| Feature | Home Health Care | Hospice Care |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Treatment or therapy to restore independence | Symptom and pain management for end-of-life care |
| Condition | Must show improvement | Prognosis of six months or less |
| Location | Patient’s private residence | Wherever the patient considers “home” |
| Patient requirement | Patient must be homebound | Patient is not restricted to being homebound |
| Services provided | Skilled care, medications, supplies, personal care | Skilled and personal care, medications, supplies |
| Visit frequency | Up to 8 hours/day for 21 days | Visits as needed; up to 24 hours/day when medically necessary |
A home visit requires careful planning to ensure it meets the needs of the patient and their family. The process begins with identifying a clear purpose or objective. Nurses must review all available family and patient records to gain a holistic understanding of the patient’s condition. The focus should remain on addressing essential needs.
The necessary components include:
Medication reconciliation
Clinical assessment
Patient/caregiver education
Fall assessment
Socioeconomic assessment
Nutritional status
Three major subspecialties within forensic nursing include:
Forensic Psychiatric Nurses: Provide care to patients with psychiatric conditions within legal or forensic settings.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs): Specialize in providing medical care, evidence collection, and legal testimony in cases of sexual assault.
Forensic Gerontology Specialists: Focus on addressing abuse, neglect, and trauma experienced by elderly populations.
To become a forensic nurse, one must first complete either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Nurses must also obtain licensure by successfully passing the NCLEX-RN state board exam. Additional specialized training or certification in forensic nursing may further enhance professional practice.
Primary prevention focuses on preventing illness or injury before it occurs. Examples include:
Eating a balanced diet
Exercising regularly
Avoiding tobacco use
Immunization against infectious diseases
Wearing seatbelts or helmets
Secondary prevention aims to reduce the impact of existing health conditions by detecting them early and minimizing complications. Examples include:
Mammograms to detect breast cancer
Routine screening exams and diagnostic tests
Structured exercise programs to prevent further cardiovascular disease
Tertiary prevention minimizes the long-term effects of chronic illness or injury. Examples include:
Cardiac or stroke rehabilitation programs
Support groups to enhance coping and quality of life
Vocational rehabilitation programs that retrain workers after recovery
American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. (2020). Core curriculum for occupational and environmental health nursing (4th ed.). Saunders.
Hammer, R. M., Moynihan, B., & Pagliaro, E. M. (2016). Forensic nursing: A handbook for practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2022). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (11th ed.). Elsevier.
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). About OSHA. https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha
