Physical abuse can cause anything from minor injuries to permanent disabilities to death. Emotional trauma could result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Nurses and other health care professionals work with both victims and perpetrators, but have little education and resources for dealing with the everyday forensic issues of pediatric practice.



This book is designed to serve as a quick resource for practicing emergency room nurses, pediatric critical care nurses, school nurses, nurse practitioners, and other health care providers. Student practitioners will also find the content helpful and readily useable as a reference guide.



The book provides current, concise, and easy-to-use information in short chapters that assist practitioners with the prevention, identification, and management of victims and offenders. This content can be integrated into advanced family and pediatric curricula, and can also be used in primary, community, and acute care pediatric and family settings as a useful, ongoing reference.