Child Abuse Nurse Examiner Orientation

This summer I helped to organize the Child Abuse Nurse Examiner Orientation at the Law Institute for Medical Studies - South Texas College of Law and a second program in College Station.

She is our poster child: She had been cut, bruised, and burned when she arrived at the hospital. Her pelvis and clavicle had been broken. She was assaulted sexually and abused emotionally. She is one of the reasons that we are presenting this program. Her parent had taken her to several different hospitals, but it wasn't until this point that anyone did anything about the abuse.

What is the program about? Presentations and dramatizations by professionals in medicine, nursing and law provide insight on identifying and reporting child abuse. Specifically, the program helps child abuse nurse examiners to:
• Recognize and understand clinical science and symptoms of possible child abuse
• Recognize and collect germane evidence
• Understand the legal aspects of reporting child abuse in Texas
• Be aware of and utilize professional and community resources to assist the subject
• Be comfortable with the role of the nurse expert witness in a child abuse hearing or trial

Click here to view the website for the Law Institute for Medical Studies.