{"title":"Comprehensive Care for Sexually Exploited Youth: A Case Report.","authors":"Breanna Heisterkamp, Brittany Puckett, Stephanie Ellis","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000568","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000568","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This case report describes a model for identification and response to adolescents at risk for human trafficking/sexual exploitation in an emergency department setting. The Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking is used, and then identified high-risk individuals are provided a forensic nurse examiner (FNE) assessment.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>The patient presented to an emergency department three times for mental health care and was screened using the Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking, which showed significant human trafficking/sexual exploitation risk. This triggered FNE interventions that led to disclosure of exploitation, connection to resources, and progress in the patient's understanding and ability to seek support. While the patient's substance dependency and mental health concerns persisted, highlighting gaps, systematic screening paired with trauma-informed, patient-directed FNE response facilitated meaningful intervention without requiring self-identification or relying on provider recognition.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This is a replicable model for health care settings seeking to improve identification and support of at-risk youth.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"E55-E59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145071404","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}
Donna Scott Tilley, Eryn Adams, Mikayla Grosz, Macy Hartman
{"title":"Nonconsensual Condom Removal or Stealthing: A Case Study.","authors":"Donna Scott Tilley, Eryn Adams, Mikayla Grosz, Macy Hartman","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000551","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>NCCR is a form of sexual violence that complicates the traumatic physical and emotional experience of sexual assault. Correlates to victimization include being a racial or sexual minority and being in nonexclusive, noncommitted relationships, or transactional relationships. Decreased confidence, guilt and worry, fear, depression, or a history of sexual abuse are correlates to being a victim.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To present a case of nonconsensual condom removal (NCCR), also known as stealthing, in a 25-year-old transexual male sexual assault patient.</p><p><strong>Case summary: </strong>A 25-year-old transexual male, hereafter known as AK, presented to the emergency department (ED) requesting to be seen by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). The partner put the condom on; during sex, AK could see that the condom was no longer in place. He asked the man to stop but was ignored. Thoughtful care was given during the exam, with attention to patient preference about use of a speculum. Prophylactic treatment for sexually transmitted infections, human immunodeficiency virus, and pregnancy were indicated and given. Follow-up care with an advocacy agency was provided. Research, policy, and practice must be developed to address this increasingly common practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"276-279"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287667","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":"The Forensic Humor Project: An Interview Study on Forensic Mental Health Inpatients Experience With and Use of Humor.","authors":"Signe Unmack Larsen, Henriette Bruun, Lene Schmidt Christiansen, Celina Hedetoft, Frederik Alkier Gildberg","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000529","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000529","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The literature suggests that humor is of central importance in the staff-patient relationship. However, within forensic mental health, the most recent review underlines a scarcity of research focusing on the use of humor from a forensic patient perspective. Therefore, this study investigated the characteristics of forensic mental health inpatients' perceptions of staff and their own use of humor within a forensic mental health setting.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The project explored this through semistructured interviews with 11 forensic mental health inpatients and subsequent thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, the patients found that staff should keep practicing humor during admission. The study showed that inpatients viewed the use of humor in terms of \"identity\" and \"community and closer relationships\" providing possibilities for \"contagious social therapy\" if managed according to \"power: insight, context, and intention.\" These elements of humor were used to \"deescalate conflicts\" and to create a \"positive therapeutic alliance\" if carried out with (a) relational sensitivity, (b) situational sensitivity, (c) person-centeredness, and (d) humor being power informed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The inpatients recommended nursing staff use of humor during admission.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":"21 4","pages":"215-221"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544622","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":"Forensic Nurses and How We Navigate Trial Ironies, Injustices, and \"Funny\" or \"Not So Funny\" Ways.","authors":"Carolyn M Porta","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000574","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000574","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":"21 4","pages":"213-214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544634","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":"Intimate Partner Violence: Case Reports of Nonfatal Strangulation Among Spouses of Service Members.","authors":"Lauren Nicole Nash, Krystal Nettles Robichaux, Carissa Petrillo, Cristobal Berry-Caban","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000562","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000562","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical public health issue within the military. Nonfatal strangulation is a form of IPV that significantly raises the risk of future violence and increases the likelihood of homicide sevenfold.</p><p><strong>Case reports: </strong>This article presents two case reports of women who presented to a military emergency department with the chief complaint of manual strangulation by their service member spouse. Their initial exam, injuries, and follow-up care are described.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IPV and nonfatal strangulation can cause severe internal damage regardless of visible external injuries. Thorough medical evaluation is essential to detect potentially life-threatening complications, including vascular, neurologic, or central nervous system damage. Enhanced prevention strategies in the military, along with adherence to evidence-based imaging and follow-up protocols, can mitigate the long-term physical and psychological effects of strangulation and improve family well-being and military readiness.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144692848","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":"Identifying Human Trafficking in the Hospital via an Abuse Screening Tool.","authors":"Kali Weiss, Karisa K Harland, Shannon Findlay","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000539","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000539","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Healthcare professionals play a vital role in the identification and assistance of individuals affected by trafficking who are seen in the healthcare setting. The objective of this project was to analyze a screening tool with newly added questions specifically geared at human trafficking and determine its efficacy in identifying trafficked persons who were seen in the emergency department or who were inpatients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort study occurred at a large Level 1 trauma center located in the Midwest. Nursing staff administered a mandatory Abuse Risk + Human Trafficking tool. A retrospective chart review was conducted. Data from the abuse screen were reviewed from April 1, 2021, to February 28, 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of all positive screens on the Abuse Risk + Human Trafficking tool, 33% were positive for at least one human trafficking question. Among those with a positive screen on the human trafficking questions, 25 screenings (20 adults, five minors) were associated with patients who had documentation highly concerning for trafficking. There were also 11 screenings with documentation highly concerning for trafficking that did not screen positive on any human trafficking questions and were positive for the non-human-trafficking questions only.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The addition of three human trafficking questions to create the Abuse Risk + Human Trafficking tool resulted in an increase in the identification of individuals exploited by human trafficking in this hospital setting when compared with the existing Abuse Risk tool that did not have the additional human trafficking questions.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"206-211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12673970/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143485083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Romana Triliegi, Elizabeth Fleming, Kathryn LaBore, Karla Hurtley
{"title":"Effectiveness of Mental Health Treatment Interventions for At-Risk Youth Within the Minnesota Runaway Intervention Program.","authors":"Romana Triliegi, Elizabeth Fleming, Kathryn LaBore, Karla Hurtley","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000538","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000538","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The Runaway Intervention Program (RIP) is a strengths-based, nurse-led home visitation and case management model for runaway youth at risk of sexual exploitation, violence, and mental health challenges. RIP aims to promote healthy development, reduce trauma responses, and lower risk behaviors. This study evaluates the effectiveness of three optional psychological interventions-individual therapy, group therapy, and combined therapy-administered by licensed mental health practitioners. Using archival data from 128 RIP participants enrolled between 2015 and 2019, the study assessed pretreatment and posttreatment posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms using the University of California Post t raumatic Stress Disorder Index.Statistical analysis suggested a reduction in PTSD symptoms from pretreatment ( M = 35.33, SD = 15.29) to posttreatment ( M = 22.91, SD = 16.31), regardless of treatment type. There was no significant difference in symptom reduction between the three treatment modalities, indicating comparable effectiveness across modalities. Across all treatment modalities, clinically significant change analysis showed that 41% of participants recovered, 51% showed no change, 2% improved, and 6% deteriorated. These findings suggest that although RIP interventions effectively reduce PTSD symptoms, no single modality outperformed the others. The results underscore the value of flexible therapeutic options to address the diverse needs of runaway youth.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"198-205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143485041","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":"Disturbing the Sound of Silence With Forensic Nursing Courage: Erratum.","authors":"Carolyn M Porta","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000556","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000556","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144121773","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}
Camille Brown, Julianne Pekala, Barbara J McMorris, Knoo Lee, Emily Singerhouse, Lauren Martin
{"title":"School Nurse Perspectives on Interventions Supporting Youth at Risk for or Experiencing Sex Trading.","authors":"Camille Brown, Julianne Pekala, Barbara J McMorris, Knoo Lee, Emily Singerhouse, Lauren Martin","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000548","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>School nurses work in interprofessional teams to identify and care for youth involved in commercial sex trading. However, the school nurse role in the care of these youth is not well documented despite evidence suggesting youth who trade sex are attending U.S. public schools.</p><p><strong>Study aim: </strong>To describe licensed school nurses' (LSNs) perspectives on interventions implemented to support youth who trade sex in Minnesota.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-one LSNs participated in an online focus group discussing their role in the support of youth who trade sex. Thematic analysis was used to identify and synthesize details about the interventions described.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes were identified: independent nursing interventions, collaborative interventions, barriers to intervention , and suggested support for improved intervention .</p><p><strong>Conclusions and implications: </strong>School nurses rely on developing positive relationships with students, school staff, and community partners to intervene with youth who trade sex. Such relationships can facilitate identification of sexually exploited youth and may promote trauma-informed care when youth seek care from forensic nurses. Collaboration between forensic and school nurses is a promising yet underutilized school-based intervention for youth who trade sex.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"172-180"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144015582","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}
Amelia Wagner, Sarah Lockwood, Amy Farrell, Alisa Lincoln, Carlos A Cuevas
{"title":"Confronting Discrimination: Opportunities and Challenges in Addressing Human Trafficking for Forensic Nurses and Related Disciplines.","authors":"Amelia Wagner, Sarah Lockwood, Amy Farrell, Alisa Lincoln, Carlos A Cuevas","doi":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000542","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JFN.0000000000000542","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a critical public safety and health concern in the United States. While evidence exists on the healthcare needs of exploited youth, less is known about the barriers they face accessing care. Discrimination in health care is one barrier reported by exploited youth and can include the perception of being treated differently based on perceived intelligence, engagement in commercial sex, or not feeling heard by nurses or doctors.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To explore asa experienced or are at high risk of CSEC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Survey data from a sample of 534 young people aged 13-24 years who experienced or are at risk of CSEC were collected via agency partnership and social media. Ordinary least squares and logistic regression models examined the associations among victimization histories and different perceived discrimination events in healthcare settings. CSEC disclosure is highly associated with discriminatory events in medical settings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among evaluated victimization histories, CSEC experiences were the most highly associated with an increase in the odds of each discriminatory event in the present measure, compared to other victimization histories that yielded lower associations of discrimination in medical settings. Experiences of discrimination in health care are an underexamined barrier to CSEC victims seeking and engaging with health care.</p><p><strong>Implications: </strong>By fostering a supportive, nonjudgmental environment, healthcare providers can improve healthcare experiences for CSEC survivors. Recommendations include enhancing training for healthcare professionals and creating more accessible and supportive healthcare services tailored to the unique needs of these young people.</p>","PeriodicalId":94079,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic nursing","volume":" ","pages":"163-171"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143627131","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}