Other Titles

Integrating Forensic and Public Health Nursing: A Social-Ecological Approach to Addressing Interpersonal Violence [Poster Title]

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities. Both public health nurses (PHN) and forensic examiners (FNE) play critical roles in addressing IPV. However, despite similarities and shared goals, these specialties often operate in isolation from one another.

Aim: This narrative review aims to summarize evidence on the interplay between PHN and FNE in addressing IPV. Using the social-ecological framework, the review identifies commonalities and areas of synergy across the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal levels.

Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted using the PubMed electronic database. The search employed a combination of MeSH terms and free-text keywords to identify relevant literature on the roles of PHN and FNE in the context of IPV. Articles were screened for relevance, and thematic analysis was used to extract and synthesize key findings.

Results: Preliminary findings highlighted areas of alignment between PHN and FNE practices. The social determinants of health emerged as a significant theme, highlighting how social factors influence interventions within each nursing specialty and wellbeing at all levels of the social-ecological framework. The analysis also identifies opportunities for collaborative strategies where PHN and FNE enhance one another’s practice.

Conclusion: This review demonstrates the potential for greater intraprofessional collaboration between PHN and FNE in addressing IPV. By leveraging shared expertise in advocacy, systemic response, and interdisciplinary practice, nursing professionals can adopt more integrated and practical approaches to addressing IPV.

Notes

References:

Barnett, K., Saye, J., & Beidler, S. M. (2024). Establishing a community-academic nursing partnership to lead a healthcare response during a human trafficking extraction operation. Public Health Nursing. 41(5):1199–1201. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13352

Jack, S. M. et al., (2019). Effect of Addition of an Intimate Partner Violence Intervention to a Nurse Home Visitation Program on Maternal Quality of Life: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 321(16), 1576–1585. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.3211

Rosenberg K. (2021). Postpartum nurse home visits offer long-lasting benefits. The American Journal of Nursing, 121(10), 52. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000794264.86475.7b

Glanz, K., Rimer, B.K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds.). (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, Research, and Practice. (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass Inc Publishing.

Description

This narrative review examines how public health nurses and forensic nurse examiners address intimate partner violence and identifies areas of synergy using a social-ecological framework. Findings identify opportunities for an intraprofessional approach to intimate partner violence.

Research was partially completed during the Pathway to PhD Nursing Scholars Program and supported by the Johns Hopkins Pathways to PhD Provost’s Award.

Author Details

Darcey McCampbell, MN, MA, RN, PHN, SANE-A

Sigma Membership

Zeta

Lead Author Affiliation

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Other

Keywords:

Public and Community Health, Intimate Partner Violence, Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nurses, Public Health Nurses, Collaboration, Intraprofessional Relations

Conference Name

37th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Conference Year

2026

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2026-08-04

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Integrating Forensic and Public Health Nursing: A Social-Ecological Approach to Addressing IPV

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities. Both public health nurses (PHN) and forensic examiners (FNE) play critical roles in addressing IPV. However, despite similarities and shared goals, these specialties often operate in isolation from one another.

Aim: This narrative review aims to summarize evidence on the interplay between PHN and FNE in addressing IPV. Using the social-ecological framework, the review identifies commonalities and areas of synergy across the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal levels.

Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted using the PubMed electronic database. The search employed a combination of MeSH terms and free-text keywords to identify relevant literature on the roles of PHN and FNE in the context of IPV. Articles were screened for relevance, and thematic analysis was used to extract and synthesize key findings.

Results: Preliminary findings highlighted areas of alignment between PHN and FNE practices. The social determinants of health emerged as a significant theme, highlighting how social factors influence interventions within each nursing specialty and wellbeing at all levels of the social-ecological framework. The analysis also identifies opportunities for collaborative strategies where PHN and FNE enhance one another’s practice.

Conclusion: This review demonstrates the potential for greater intraprofessional collaboration between PHN and FNE in addressing IPV. By leveraging shared expertise in advocacy, systemic response, and interdisciplinary practice, nursing professionals can adopt more integrated and practical approaches to addressing IPV.