journal Banner

Journal of Medical & Clinical Nursing

The Nurse of Yesterday and Today: The Evolution that has led to the Development of New Knowledge

Author(s): Elvana Fortuzi

More and more over the years, the statement “to know, to know how to do, to know how to be” that many Nursing theor-ists have underlined in their writings become the pivotal point that distinguishes an nurse. This process leads to more freedom of decision making and greater assumption of responsibility: as Jean-Paul Sartre (French writer and philosopher) said: “It is true that you are not responsible for who you are, but you are responsible for what you do with who you are. This study aims to highlight the evolution that led to the birth of the figure, of an infirm attentive to the legal profiles of his profession. The legal and forensic nurse is a very recent specialty in Italia compared to other States and its function has the purpose of contributing to the identification of problems in the field of health and ligation for both the persons assisted, but also addressed to the sick-men themselves. The forensic nurse in Italy still has a long way to go, especially because the general care nurses-science has found only in recent years radical changes.

Objective: The general objective is to highlight the evolution that has led to the birth of the figure of a nurse attentive to the legal profiles of his profession. Specific objectives are to provide information on the working environment, self-assessed skills and practical experiences of forensic nurses after completing their training.

Methods: Review of the nurse’s path in Italy from birth to the present day. In June 2019 a questionnaire was developed and distributed among the 47 Italian forensic nurses who had completed their training.

Results: The forensic nurse in Italy still has a long way to go, especially since the general nursing care has faced only in recent years radical changes

View PDF