 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Lisa Kelley, MS, RN and Benita Walton-Moss, DNS, RN, FNP. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe St., Box 472L, Baltimore, MD 21205
Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a major public health problem with negative health consequences including psychiatric, behavioral, somatic and academic problems. Dating activity has been reported by as many as 89% of youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years and ADV has been theorized to often begin between the ages of 15 and 16. Prevalence for dating violence in adolescence has ranged from 9 to 46% across studies. ADV is different from adult dating violence in that it affects boys and girls equally as both victims and perpetrators. Behaviors learned during adolescence have implications for the future, with the risk of violence and victimization patterns continuing into adulthood. Since substantial amounts of socialization among adolescents occurs in the school setting, school nurses can play a central role in identifying and intervening in ADV. Following competencies can aid school nurses in this role. An example of a set of competencies is presented that covers four basic areas: scope of problem, screening and prevention, treatment, and legal/policy. Elements of each competency include: outcomes, key components, methodology, and tangibles, e.g., screening tools, copies of policies, assessment guidelines, and referral lists. As school nurses are often not school department employees and maybe contracted by outside entities, they may lack the necessary knowledge to effectively address ADV along school policy guidelines. The development and implementation of school nurse competencies is a way of redressing this oversight.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Youth Violence
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.