In this Bell Work Talk, Dr. O’Briant will discuss that violence and abuse in rural America is exacerbated by limited access to support services for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) due to family connections with people in positions of authority, geographic isolation, transportation barriers, stigma of abuse, lack of available shelters and affordable housing, poverty as a barrier to care, and other challenges. Victims of abuse who live in small communities may be well-acquainted with local health care providers and often voter-elected law enforcement officers. Individuals may fear being seen walking into a mental health clinic, with subsequent (and reality-based) fear that deter them from seeking help. Thus, advances in technology are becoming a much-needed option. Although telehealth has been used for some time in rural health settings, only in more recent years has there been an increase toward quality trauma-informed care. With increasing focus on the impact of social determinants of health, agencies continue to shift to telehealth to provide virtual support. Specifically, telehealth visits can potentially extend the reach of the limited number of primary care and mental health providers to those who are significantly in need of services. 

Deborah O’Briant is a nursing educator with over 20 years as an RN and 13 years of experience as a family nurse practitioner working in a variety of clinical settings, including the Emergency Room. She currently teaches at Texas A&M University College of Nursing and is the coordinator for the Family Nurse Practitioner Master degree (MSN) program and the interim coordinator for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. She has a strong interest in rural healthcare and helps provide care to women in underserved communities in Texas using grant funds awarded to Texas A&M College of Nursing. 

Resources:

A signal for help: Visit:   https://canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help

“CUES” Strategy for Safe and Effective Telemental Health Assessments for Violence and Abuse. Visit:  https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/

Tips to help you ID intimate partner violence via telehealth: Visit: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/tips-help-you-id-intimate-partner-violence-telehealth

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Episode 59: Telemental Health Assessment and Implications for IPV in Rural Settings

In this Bell Work Talk, Dr. Dahl-Jacinto explores the critical issue of youth suicide, emphasizing the growing need for individuals to take an active approach in understanding, assessing, and intervening. The discussion focuses on how to ask about suicide, practical tools for assessing risk, recognizing risk and protective factors, and creating safe, supportive environments for youth experiencing suicidality. Throughout the discussion there is an emphasis on the importance of empathy and cultural awareness when responding to youth experiencing suicidality. 

Dr. Heather Dahl-Jacinto is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has multiple peer-reviewed publications and presentations and over $8 million dollars in grant funding. Her research interests are focused on mental health and include crisis intervention (e.g., suicide prevention and assessment), mental health education, and qualitative research methodology. She has held service positions at the local, regional, national, and international level, including president of the Western Association of Counselor Education & Supervision (2018-2019).

Resources:

National Suicide Hotline (English): 9-8-8, can also text, accessible for deaf & hard of hearing

National Suicide Hotline (Spanish): 9-8-8 (no text available yet)

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

The Trevor Project for LBGTQ Youth: 1-866-488-7386, or text: 678-678

Risk and Protective Factors Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f1nyhwlVKlkXUYqTKN7SfYfbA8hBGpaj/view?usp=sharing

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Episode 60: Youth Suicide

In this Bell Work Talk, we talk about Forensic Nursing in Switzerland. History, current situation and an outlook into the future.

-	Hints on how to implement Forensic Nursing
-	The importance of Networking to implement Forensic Nursing
-	Obstacles in implementing a new nursing specification
-	Get an overview how Forensic Nursing is developing in Switzerland or other European countries

My name is Dominice, I am 40 years old and I work as a Forensic Nurse since two years at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Zurich. Since April we have a project at the Canton of Zurich where hospital emergency room staff can call us Forensic Nurses when they have people affected by sexual or domestic violence. We Forensic Nurses go out into the hospitals to document injuries, do DNA-swabs and talk with the people affected about next steps that can be done, mostly connect them to victim counselors. In Europe there is the “Istanbul Convention” who needs to be realized by the countries who signed the Convention. Goal of the convention is, to bring better support for victims of domestic or sexual violence. Switzerland has developed an Action Plan to implement the goals of the Istanbul Convention over the next few years. Forensic Nurses are or can be part of the plan. Forensic Nursing itself is relatively new in Switzerland and there are not a lot of possibilities to work as a FN in Switzerland at the moment. But we are working on it.

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(EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING)

Episode 61: Forensic Nursing in Switzerland

In this Bell Work Talk, Kory will talk about addiction and how it is a very stigmatized disease. In his last podcast, he defined addiction, neurobiology of addiction, discussed brain failure, and how the cravings of addiction change our body.  He will now discuss the harm reduction strategies and treatment for substance use disorder. 

Addiction can happen to anyone, and we must really learn the science behind it, and reduce the stigma that this group faces.  Many times patients with addictions will avoid medical care because of the stigma that they often receive.

Kory Scheideman is an Emergency Department nurse manager that has been in the emergency world for over 18 years as a nurse, and prior to that an EMT/Fire Fighter for 5 years.  For the last 6 years, Kory has helped develop an ALTO program, Medication Assisted Treatment program in 6 different Emergency Departments.  He also is an active community member and sits on the Northern Colorado Harm Reduction Alliance, Northern Colorado Collaborative for Addiction and Recovery Supports, and the Colorado Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Quality, Safety and Injury Prevention Committee Chair. He was recently awarded a “Rethinking Addiction and Recovery Event” Award and the Colorado ENA Inspire award in 2023 for his work in the community and the Colorado ENA. Kory was also inducted in the Academy of Emergency Nurses earlier this month for the work with addiction medicine among Emergency Nurses Association and community. Kory is also engaged with the Naloxone Project as a Nurse Leader.  

Resources:

https://changingmindslarimer.org/how-addiction-changes-the-brain/ 
https://cha.com/opioid-safety/
https://www.naloxoneproject.com/


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(EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING)

Episode 62: Emergency Department Treatment for Addiction

In this Bell Work Talk, Antoinette discusses the critical intersection of mental health and non-fatal strangulation in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). Drawing from the latest research, this episode highlights how strangulation is often an overlooked yet severe form of violence that leaves lasting physical and psychological effects. Antoinette also discusses the importance of enhancing mental health assessments, the role of healthcare providers in identifying subtle indicators of strangulation, and how trauma-informed care can lead to better outcomes for survivors. Join us as we shed light on this silent yet significant issue and offer insights into improving care for vulnerable populations. 

Antoinette Janson is an experienced forensic nurse with specialized training in intimate partner violence. With a focus on improving forensic medical documentation and patient care, she is actively involved in forensic nursing education through a mobile simulation lab and in-person clinical simulation events. As a published co-author on non-fatal strangulation and mental health assessments, Antoinette brings both practical and research-based expertise to the Bell Work Talk podcast.

Resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788

Love is Respect (for teens and young adults)
Call 1-866-331-9474
Test: LOVEIS to 22522

Strong Hearts Helpline (Native American and Alaska Native survivors)
Text or call: 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)
Chat online at: strongheartshelpline.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Intimate Partner Violence
https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/

American Psychiatric Association (APA)
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/domestic-violence

Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
www.biausa.org

Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention
https://www.strangulationtraininginstitute.com/

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(EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING)

Episode 63: Silent Struggles: Unveiling Non-Fatal Strangulation in Mental Health Care

In this Bell Work Talk, Dr. Vela will discuss risks and issues experienced by children that face homelessness. She will explain suitcase living and treatment leading to a hopeful mindset with an emphasis on trauma informed care.  She will give examples of how to add hope to the interactions that forensic nurses have with patients.

Dr. Christina Vela, CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, has 20+ years of human and social service experience that includes administering foster care, homeless, and supportive services to children, transition age-youth, and their families.

She has worked at the non-profit level as the Executive Director and the Chief Program Officer for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, a Manager for the Clark County Department of Family Services, Social Services Program Specialist for the State of Nevada and a Program Specialist for the Federal Administration for Children and Families-Children’s Bureau in Washington DC.  More recently, Christina has been the Coordinator for the State of Nevada Coalition to Prevent the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Christina holds her Doctorate in Public Policy and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is a proud alumnus of Emerge Nevada, Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2013, Jameson Fellows and Clark County Leadership Academy.

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(EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING)

Episode 64: Youth Homelessness

In this Bell Work Talk, Rachel Lapp will discuss harm reduction as it pertains to Forensic Nursing Practice.

Rachel is a forensic nurse from Chicago, Illinois. She has been a registered nurse for 11 years. Her background is in emergency and trauma nursing. She began her journey into forensic nursing 7 years ago when she decided to become a sexual assault nurse examiner. Rachel is a board-certified emergency nurse, board-certified trauma nurse, licensed trauma nurse specialist, and is a nationally certified adult/adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner.

Rachel is currently the Forensic Nurse Examiner Program Manager for Advocate Health’s Central Chicagoland Region. Rachel oversees three urban hospital sites and leads a team of nearly 60 forensic nurses who care for patients who are survivors of sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence. Rachel has been a member of the Academy of Forensic Nursing since 2018. She is currently serving on the Academy of Forensic Nursing’s board of directors and is the chair of the Harm Reduction Special Interest Group (SIG).

Resources:

The HR SIG meets the second Monday of each month at 6pm EST. Visit https://www.goafn.org for more information. We always welcome new members!

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Episode 65: Harm Reduction in the context of Forensic Nursing

In this Bell Work Talk, Dr. Barol will help us to reach past the overshadowing diagnosis of autism to talk about how to respond to the neurodiverse/autistic child who has experienced trauma. 

Dr. Barol has devoted the past 49 years to serving and supporting individuals with intellectual, developmental, and neurological differences (ID) who have experienced trauma and, as a result, often exhibit challenging behaviors and co-occurring mental health issues. 

Dr. Barol received the National Association for Dual Diagnosis (NADD) Earl L. Loschen, MD Award for clinical practice in 2020. She has been the co-director of the Capacity Building Institute for Pennsylvania for the past eight years. Dr. Barol consults regularly in both the U.S. and internationally.

Resources:

Barol, B. (2019). Revisiting the fourfold positive approaches paradigm: environment, communication, assessment, and hanging in there. Positive Approaches Journal, 8(1), 12-26.

Barol B., & Focht-New, G. (2019). Understanding, identifying, and   effectively responding to trauma: Opening opportunities to heal, grow, and learn. TASH Connections, 44(1),42-48.

Barol, B. & Seubert, A. (2010). Stepping stones: EMDR treatment of Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and challenging behavior. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. 4(4), 156-169.

Focht-New, G., Clements, P.T., Barol, B., Service, K. & Faulkner, M. (2008). Persons with developmental disabilities exposed to interpersonal violence and crime:  Strategies and Guidance for assessment. Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. 44(1), 3-13.

Barol B. & Buffie, S. (2024). Biographical Timelines. In P.T. Clements, D.T. Solomon, B. Barol,  C. Schoonover, and S. Seedat.  New perspectives in mental health issues in child maltreatment. STM Learning. 

Barol, B. & Focht-New, G.(2023). Biofeedback: Harmonizing the Brain and the Body for a Happier Life. In Price, U. & Baker, D.(Eds.), The Good Stuff (pp. 509-557). NADD Press.

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Episode 66: Working with autistic children who experienced trauma from a Social Therapy perspective

In this Bell Work Talk, Nancy Blaney and Claire Coughlin of the Animal Welfare Institute will discuss the connection between human and animal welfare and implications for the practice of Forensic Nursing. By incorporating questions about animals into their work, practitioners can identify people and pets at risk, positively impact service engagement, and make the most of available resources.

Claire Coughlin: Claire Coughlin (she/her) has a master’s degree in human development and family studies and extensive experience in both social services and animal advocacy. For over a decade, she specialized in evidence-based education and support services for children and families impacted by abuse and neglect. She now serves as the director of the Companion Animals Program for the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and oversees AWI’s work on the link between animal maltreatment and human violence, including the Safe Havens for Pets program which supports domestic violence survivors with pets.

Nancy Blaney has advocated on behalf of animals for more than 40 years and is currently Director of Government Affairs at the Animal Welfare Institute. She works with federal and state legislators and regulators, the law enforcement community, veterinarians, and other stakeholder groups to improve animal welfare, the prosecution of animal cruelty crimes, and public awareness of the relationship between animal abuse and other forms of violence, particularly all forms of family violence. Nancy serves on a variety of advisory bodies and has co-authored several articles and chapters.

Resources:

Including Pets in Orders of Protection (State-Specific Guides): https://awionline.org/content/including-pets-protection-orders 

Safety Planning for People with Pets: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-Safety-Planning-Pets.pdf 

Safety Planning for People with Pets (Spanish): https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-Safety-Planning-Pets-Spanish.pdf

Searchable Database of Safe Havens (shelters and other services that help get people and pets to safety)
https://awionline.org/content/safe-havens-pets 

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We’d be interested to hear practitioners’ experiences with patients whose abusers have harmed or threatened to harm their pets and what it was like getting everyone to safety; what resources did they have access to, what obstacles did they face?

Episode 67: Conversations with Patients: Integrating Pet-Related Questions and Resources

In this Bell Work Talk, Dr. Jamie Lewis Saye discusses her team’s pilot study comparing blind swab and speculum-assisted evidence collection during sexual assault forensic medical examinations. She highlights how both methods yield similar rates of Y-screen positivity and CODIS-eligible DNA profiles, underscoring the potential of less invasive approaches to improve survivor participation in evidence collection while maintaining forensic integrity.

Dr. Jamie Lewis Saye, DNP, CNM, APRN, SANE-A, is an Assistant Professor in the Wellstar School of Nursing at Kennesaw State University and Clinical Director of the SAFE Center. A certified nurse-midwife and experienced Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Dr. Saye brings over a decade of experience in forensic nursing, trauma-informed care, and interdisciplinary community-academic collaboration.

Her research focuses on strengthening forensic evidence collection practices, advancing survivor-centered policies, and improving health and legal outcomes for victims of violence. Dr. Saye recently led a multi-site pilot study across 13 sexual assault centers in the Southeastern U.S. that compared blind swab and speculum-assisted vaginal/cervical specimen collection methods. These findings inform both clinical training and policy, supporting survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches in forensic nursing practice.

Resources:

Saye, J. L., et al. (2025). From Kit to CODIS: Comparing DNA Profile Yields from Blind Swabs and Speculum-Guided Collection. [Manuscript in development / forthcoming publication]

Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). (2024). National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations: Adults/Adolescents (3rd ed.).

Campbell, R., Javorka, M., Gregory, K., Vollinger, L., & Ma, W. (2021). The Right to Say No: Why Adult Sexual Assault Patients Decline Medical Forensic Exams and Sexual Assault Kit Evidence. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 17(1), 3-14.

RAINN (2025). Sexual Assault Statistics. https://www.rainn.org/statistics

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Warning:

Mentions of sexual assault, forensic examination procedures, and trauma.



New tracks tagged #academy of forensic nursing