{"title":"State Law Variation Regarding Informed Consent for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Exams With Adolescents.","authors":"Connie Gao, Katherine Drabiak","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000616","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Several states have amended their laws relating to a minor's ability to consent to medical forensic exams after sexual assault.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To identify state-by-state legal differences of who may provide informed consent for forensic medical exams with adolescent patients following sexual assault.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A search of all 50 states using the legal database Westlaw for state statutes pertaining to who may provide consent for sexual assault medical forensic exams on minors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Unless stated as an exception, parental consent remains a prerequisite for minors to undergo medical forensic exams and medical treatment following a sexual assault. Fourteen states have an exception that allows minors to obtain sexual assault medical forensic exams without parental consent, while twenty-eight states do not have an exception (require parental consent).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Legislative divergence across states highlights the importance of health care providers to remain current on their state's requirements.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148311055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Baseline Prescribing and Adherence Patterns of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Nonoccupational Postexposure Prophylaxis in Pediatric Sexual Assault Patients.","authors":"Larissa Allen","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000614","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Pediatric sexual assault patients may be eligible for human immunodeficiency virus nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP), yet adherence remains inconsistent.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To describe baseline prescribing and adherence patterns, and to inform quality improvement efforts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective electronic health record review was conducted of patients presenting for sexual assault evidence collection at an urban children's hospital between January 2024 and December 2024. Data were reviewed descriptively to characterize nPEP initiation, adherence, and documented barriers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety-seven patients were identified; of those eligible, 11 (11.7%) were initiated on nPEP. One patient (9.1%) completed the full course, two (18.2%) completed at least one week of therapy, three (27.3%) discontinued nPEP before one week of therapy, and the remainder were lost to follow-up. Documented barriers included medication side effects, follow-up difficulties, and variability in counseling and risk stratification.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Low initiation and adherence rates highlight a critical practice gap and informed development of a targeted program initiative.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148280577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nonfatal Strangulation Knowledge and Experience in Health Care Professionals.","authors":"Katherine M Thompson","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000612","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nonfatal strangulation (NFS) is a high-lethality act commonly associated with intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Strangulation-specific knowledge among U.S. health care professionals outside of forensic settings is not well characterized.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine NFS knowledge and clinical decision-making across health care roles and assess whether licensure type or clinical experience was associated with knowledge scores.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was administered to 131 U.S. health care professionals. A 10-item composite knowledge score was analyzed using ANCOVA, controlling for years of experience.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mean composite score was 5.68 (SD=1.576, range=2-9). Licensure type was significantly associated with scores (P=0.001, partial η²=0.120). Nursing professionals scored highest (M=6.22), significantly outperforming providers (M=5.42), prehospital (M=4.85), and allied health providers (M=4.43). Years of experience were not significant (P=0.412).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Nursing professionals had a significantly higher level of comfort than other healthcare roles, suggesting that education and experience are not uniformly distributed during schooling and on-the-job training. This may suggest that healthcare education would benefit from more broadly applied education, although the size of the study limits the generalizability of conclusions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Strangulation knowledge varied by professional role and was not associated with clinical experience, highlighting the need for standardized, cross-disciplinary education.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148260865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Behind White Bars: Nurses' Untold Experiences of Care Dimensions for Prisoners With Cardiac Diseases.","authors":"Simin Sharafi, Ghazaleh Banayee, Toba Kazemi, Sajjad Salehian","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000615","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000615","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine occupational challenges faced by nurses providing cardiac care to incarcerated individuals with cardiovascular disease in a high-security environment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used Graneheim and Lundman's conventional content analysis. We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with nine purposively selected nurses from cardiology departments at Razi Hospital, Birjand, Iran (November 2023-May 2024). MAXQDA software was used for analysis, and Guba and Lincoln's criteria ensured the credibility and trustworthiness of the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four main themes were identified: (1) conflict between custody and care, (2) relational challenges and mutual distrust, (3) prisoner-specific care issues, and (4) psychological pressures and increased workload for nurses.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Nurses providing specialized care to prisoners with cardiovascular disease face numerous challenges, necessitating multilevel interventions such as enhanced training, improved organizational protocols, and policy collaboration between health care and correctional facilities to address the core custody-versus-care tension and develop effective strategies for equitable care.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148255256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Descriptive Synthesis of Case Reports on Nurse and Physician Suicide.","authors":"Elizabeth Kreuze","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000613","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000613","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>Conduct a descriptive synthesis of case reports on nurse and physician suicide.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The literature was searched using CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Collectively, 47 case reports on nurse suicide and 95 case reports on physician suicide were examined. Most case reports did not differentiate between working and non-working nurse and physician suicide decedents. Case reports suggested nurse and physician suicide decedents maintained specialties that provided knowledge of and/or easier access to lethal means of suicide. Case reports frequently included nurse and physician suicide decedents from high-income countries with higher provider per population ratios. Male nurse suicide decedents were overrepresented across case reports, and there were also more case reports on male physician suicide decedents. Nurse and physician suicide decedents in their 40s and 30s were the subject of numerous case reports. Nurses and physicians were frequently found deceased in their homes, followed by the workplace. Across case reports, self-poisoning represented the leading method of suicide among nurses and physicians. Ethanol represented a common nonfatal substance among nurse and physician suicide decedents. Across case reports, leading overlapping contextual factors among nurse and physician suicide decedents included mental health concerns, physical health concerns, and job problems.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Taken together, additional research is important in corroborating evidence from case reports, building and expanding the evidence base, and informing prevention and intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148255311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kaitlin M H Winks, Emma Simpson, Lisa Murdock, Corey J Rood, Jodi A Quas
{"title":"Youth Sex Trafficking Survivors' Perspectives on Communication With Health Practitioners.","authors":"Kaitlin M H Winks, Emma Simpson, Lisa Murdock, Corey J Rood, Jodi A Quas","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000608","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000608","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite growing awareness among health care practitioners of youth sex trafficking in the United States, little is known from the perspective of the survivors about their experiences communicating with such professionals.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To provide insight into how nurses and other health care practitioners, who often encounter survivors, can better intervene to assist them.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with eight 18-26-year-old adults who had survived sex trafficking as a youth; we inquired bout their interactions with nurses and health care first responders while being trafficked.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three major communication themes emerged in participants' descriptions: victim/survivor-focused, practitioner-focused, and disclosure-focused themes. Each reflected a different pattern of verbal and nonverbal communication in survivors' perceptions of how their interactions unfolded.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Results highlight important directions for education and training for health care practitioners to enhance identification of and support and service provisions for youth victims of exploitation and trafficking, an important, overlooked, and underserved youth population that regularly seeks services in clinic and emergency health care settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current Practices and Future Perspectives of Forensic Nurses in France-A National Survey.","authors":"Clément Poulain, Maelle Guyomard, Manon Blanc, Vanessa Corve, Benoit Suply","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000607","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Forensic nursing is emerging in France following the 2010 forensic medicine reform, establishing Medico-Judicial Units. This field lacks standardized training and formal recognition compared with international standards.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe the current practices and future professional perspectives of forensic nurses in France.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional survey with attendees of first French forensic nursing symposium, assessing demographics, forensic nursing activities, and professional interests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty nurses participated, revealing forensic nursing as a mid-career transition with substantial general nursing experience but limited forensic experience. Current practices emphasized collaborative clinical examinations, photography participation, and comprehensive victim follow-up. However, only half had received specific forensic training. Primary difficulties were insufficient training and a lack of supervision. Future aspirations favored technical activities and academic pursuits over independent examinations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Forensic nursing is a collaborative specialty with training gaps; study findings inform recommendations for standardized education, supervision, and formal recognition through a new national association.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147679594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"TeleSANE: A Scoping Review of Telehealth-Based Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Services.","authors":"Claire Clifton, Nathaniel Steinlicht, Faustina Ogechukwu Okoye, Bridget Diamond-Welch, Jessica Shaw","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000603","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000603","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Telehealth technology has been used to increase access to SANE care as many patients have limited or no access to a SANE.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To map current literature on telehealth-based Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (teleSANE) services.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched databases for articles published through May 2025 and identified 13 articles from 371 initial records. Eligible studies discussed telehealth SANE services and included feedback from stakeholders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most teleSANE services used a hub-and-spoke model with SANEs providing real-time guidance to remote-site clinicians. Implementation rationales focused on ensuring quality care, increasing access, and improving provider confidence. Stakeholder feedback was predominantly positive, although rarely gathered from patients. Significant sustainability challenges were evident.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>TeleSANE shows promise in ensuring access to SANE care while creating new practice opportunities for forensic nurses. Future research should focus on patient outcomes, cost-effectiveness, experiences of diverse populations, and implementation in specialized settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah J Hoffman, Tara Dillon, Melissa A Jackson, Meira Pomegranate, Susan Kolar, Ellen A Frerich, Carolyn M Porta
{"title":"SANE Practice Integrated Competency Evaluation (SPICE): A Forensic Nurse Role Development and Performance Tool.","authors":"Sarah J Hoffman, Tara Dillon, Melissa A Jackson, Meira Pomegranate, Susan Kolar, Ellen A Frerich, Carolyn M Porta","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000585","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the widespread adoption of established and emerging forensic training and education modalities, there is limited evidence supporting effective ways in which to systematically evaluate their adoption into forensic nursing practice. To address this, our team developed the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Practice Integrated Competency Evaluation (SPICE) as an innovative tool to support self-reflection, goal setting, and an evaluation of role development.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To establish expert consensus on the content and capacity of SPICE to evaluate role development across essential forensic nurse competencies, responsibilities, and clinical practice expectations.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We utilized a modified Delphi method to establish expert consensus.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We engaged forensic experts in multiple rounds of review. A deductive, rapid thematic analysis synthesized qualitative discussion. Survey-based results were summarized descriptively.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The expert consensus approach we describe here highlights the potential and promising utility of SPICE to evaluate, guide, and enhance SANE role performance and ongoing professional development.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"E128-E133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145491171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carolyn M Porta, Ann Wolbert Burgess, Elizabeth Burgess Dowdell
{"title":"Forensic Family, Forensic Nurses: An Interview With Mother and Daughter, Reflecting on How Far We Have Come and Where We Need to Go.","authors":"Carolyn M Porta, Ann Wolbert Burgess, Elizabeth Burgess Dowdell","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000596","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000596","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"E83-E87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147292127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}