International emergency nursing
-
Violence is a major public health problem worldwide. Emergency nurses are often in a unique position to identify, assess, evaluate, and treat these patients, but there is limited forensic knowledge and skills to enable emergency nurses to feel confident to guide their practice in New Zealand. The purpose of this study was to establish the level of forensic knowledge and skills currently known and used by nurses in clinical practice working in New Zealand District Health Boards (DHB)'s emergency departments. The study aimed to develop a tertiary education course based on the needs and the knowledge required, to enable nurses to practice confidently and safely with Forensic patients in the emergency department setting. ⋯ As forensic patients generally require emergency medical attention, it is important that nurses as part of the front-line first responders have forensic knowledge around preservation and collection of evidence during the provision of medical care. It was found that, emergency nurses do not have enough knowledge around forensic issues indicating that forensic education is warranted, needed and desired among ED nurses within the clinical setting. The study also provides support for the implementation of tertiary forensic science nursing postgraduate study in New Zealand.