Episode 65: Harm Reduction in the context of Forensic Nursing
In this Bell Work Talk, Rachel Lapp will discuss harm reduction as it pertains to Forensic Nursing Practice.
Rachel is a forensic nurse from Chicago, Illinois. She has been a registered nurse for 11 years. Her background is in emergency and trauma nursing. She began her journey into forensic nursing 7 years ago when she decided to become a sexual assault nurse examiner. Rachel is a board-certified emergency nurse, board-certified trauma nurse, licensed trauma nurse specialist, and is a nationally certified adult/adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner.
Rachel is currently the Forensic Nurse Examiner Program Manager for Advocate Health’s Central Chicagoland Region. Rachel oversees three urban hospital sites and leads a team of nearly 60 forensic nurses who care for patients who are survivors of sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence. Rachel has been a member of the Academy of Forensic Nursing since 2018. She is currently serving on the Academy of Forensic Nursing’s board of directors and is the chair of the Harm Reduction Special Interest Group (SIG).
Resources:
The HR SIG meets the second Monday of each month at 6pm EST. Visit https://www.goafn.org for more information. We always welcome new members!
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11:32
Episode 64: Youth Homelessness
In this Bell Work Talk, Dr. Vela will discuss risks and issues experienced by children that face homelessness. She will explain suitcase living and treatment leading to a hopeful mindset with an emphasis on trauma informed care. She will give examples of how to add hope to the interactions that forensic nurses have with patients.
Dr. Christina Vela, CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, has 20+ years of human and social service experience that includes administering foster care, homeless, and supportive services to children, transition age-youth, and their families.
She has worked at the non-profit level as the Executive Director and the Chief Program Officer for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, a Manager for the Clark County Department of Family Services, Social Services Program Specialist for the State of Nevada and a Program Specialist for the Federal Administration for Children and Families-Children’s Bureau in Washington DC. More recently, Christina has been the Coordinator for the State of Nevada Coalition to Prevent the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Christina holds her Doctorate in Public Policy and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is a proud alumnus of Emerge Nevada, Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2013, Jameson Fellows and Clark County Leadership Academy.
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29:57
Episode 63: Silent Struggles: Unveiling Non-Fatal Strangulation in Mental Health Care
In this Bell Work Talk, Antoinette discusses the critical intersection of mental health and non-fatal strangulation in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). Drawing from the latest research, this episode highlights how strangulation is often an overlooked yet severe form of violence that leaves lasting physical and psychological effects. Antoinette also discusses the importance of enhancing mental health assessments, the role of healthcare providers in identifying subtle indicators of strangulation, and how trauma-informed care can lead to better outcomes for survivors. Join us as we shed light on this silent yet significant issue and offer insights into improving care for vulnerable populations.
Antoinette Janson is an experienced forensic nurse with specialized training in intimate partner violence. With a focus on improving forensic medical documentation and patient care, she is actively involved in forensic nursing education through a mobile simulation lab and in-person clinical simulation events. As a published co-author on non-fatal strangulation and mental health assessments, Antoinette brings both practical and research-based expertise to the Bell Work Talk podcast.
Resources:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788
Love is Respect (for teens and young adults)
Call 1-866-331-9474
Test: LOVEIS to 22522
Strong Hearts Helpline (Native American and Alaska Native survivors)
Text or call: 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)
Chat online at: strongheartshelpline.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Intimate Partner Violence
https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/domestic-violence
Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
www.biausa.org
Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention
https://www.strangulationtraininginstitute.com/
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18:56
Episode 62: Emergency Department Treatment for Addiction
In this Bell Work Talk, Kory will talk about addiction and how it is a very stigmatized disease. In his last podcast, he defined addiction, neurobiology of addiction, discussed brain failure, and how the cravings of addiction change our body. He will now discuss the harm reduction strategies and treatment for substance use disorder.
Addiction can happen to anyone, and we must really learn the science behind it, and reduce the stigma that this group faces. Many times patients with addictions will avoid medical care because of the stigma that they often receive.
Kory Scheideman is an Emergency Department nurse manager that has been in the emergency world for over 18 years as a nurse, and prior to that an EMT/Fire Fighter for 5 years. For the last 6 years, Kory has helped develop an ALTO program, Medication Assisted Treatment program in 6 different Emergency Departments. He also is an active community member and sits on the Northern Colorado Harm Reduction Alliance, Northern Colorado Collaborative for Addiction and Recovery Supports, and the Colorado Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Quality, Safety and Injury Prevention Committee Chair. He was recently awarded a “Rethinking Addiction and Recovery Event” Award and the Colorado ENA Inspire award in 2023 for his work in the community and the Colorado ENA. Kory was also inducted in the Academy of Emergency Nurses earlier this month for the work with addiction medicine among Emergency Nurses Association and community. Kory is also engaged with the Naloxone Project as a Nurse Leader.
Resources:
https://changingmindslarimer.org/how-addiction-changes-the-brain/
https://cha.com/opioid-safety/
https://www.naloxoneproject.com/
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38:26
Episode 61: Forensic Nursing in Switzerland
In this Bell Work Talk, we talk about Forensic Nursing in Switzerland. History, current situation and an outlook into the future.
- Hints on how to implement Forensic Nursing
- The importance of Networking to implement Forensic Nursing
- Obstacles in implementing a new nursing specification
- Get an overview how Forensic Nursing is developing in Switzerland or other European countries
My name is Dominice, I am 40 years old and I work as a Forensic Nurse since two years at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Zurich. Since April we have a project at the Canton of Zurich where hospital emergency room staff can call us Forensic Nurses when they have people affected by sexual or domestic violence. We Forensic Nurses go out into the hospitals to document injuries, do DNA-swabs and talk with the people affected about next steps that can be done, mostly connect them to victim counselors. In Europe there is the “Istanbul Convention” who needs to be realized by the countries who signed the Convention. Goal of the convention is, to bring better support for victims of domestic or sexual violence. Switzerland has developed an Action Plan to implement the goals of the Istanbul Convention over the next few years. Forensic Nurses are or can be part of the plan. Forensic Nursing itself is relatively new in Switzerland and there are not a lot of possibilities to work as a FN in Switzerland at the moment. But we are working on it.
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Ireland