Public Health, Forensic, and Community Nursing Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering core public health nursing topics including forensic nursing, disaster management, public policy, occupational health, school health, and community mental health.

Forensic

The application of scientific knowledge to legal problems.

Forensic Nursing

A practice specialty that synthesizes nursing sciences, the legal arena, and the criminal justice system to participate in public proceedings.

Primary Nursing Role (Forensic Context)

The foremost responsibility of all nurses when treating a forensic patient, which is to save the patient's life.

Secondary Nursing Role (Forensic Context)

The nursing responsibility focused on evidence preservation and ensuring the authenticity of physical evidence.

Postmortem Interval (PMI)

The time that has elapsed between an individual's death and the examination of the body.

Algor Mortis

The postmortem cooling of the human body after death.

Livor Mortis

The postmortem pooling or settling of blood caused by gravity, producing pinkish or purplish patches while leaving areas pressed against a surface pale.

Contact Pallor

The pale appearance of skin areas pressed against a firm surface during livor mortis where blood cannot pool.

Rigor Mortis

The postmortem stiffening of muscles caused by ATP depletion and lactic acid accumulation, progressing to rigidity within $3$ to $8$ hours, peaking for $8$ to $36$ hours, and resolving into secondary flaccidity via enzymatic breakdown.

Medicolegal Death Investigation

A formal investigation to identify the cause and manner of death, supporting the public health and justice systems through autopsies and death certificates.

Faith Community Nurse

A registered nurse (formerly called a parish nurse) who provides holistic mind-body-spirit care integrated with spiritual dimensions and congregational programs, typically serving as an unpaid volunteer.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

Evidence-based pharmacological therapies used to treat opioid use disorder, specifically methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

NA-TECH Disaster

A compound disaster occurring when a natural disaster triggers a technological or industrial accident.

Hazard Mapping

The creation of a risk map during the prevention/mitigation stage to identify potential disasters and outline plans to limit damage.

START Algorithm

A rapid triage protocol employed in the triage sector during disaster response to quickly classify victim urgency.

Four Phases of Community Response to Disaster

The psychological sequence experienced by a community following a disaster: heroic phase, honeymoon phase, disillusionment phase, and reconstruction phase.

Point-in-Time (PIT) Count

A standardized count used to measure sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night.

Housing First

A supportive housing approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing quickly to people experiencing homelessness without mandatory treatment or sobriety prerequisites.

Statute

A formal, written law enacted by a federal or state government legislative body.

Ordinance

A formal law enacted at the local government level.

Public Policy

A course of action established only by government bodies (local, state, or federal) affecting everyone living within that government's jurisdiction.

Public Health Policy

Policy created by government bodies, often guided by medical and scientific agencies, that affects the entire public specifically regarding health and safety.

Cui Bono?

A Latin question meaning 'to whose benefit?' that must be evaluated prior to proposing or voting on any law.

Federalism

The constitutional principle dividing and balancing governmental authority and powers among federal, state, and local levels.

U.S. Senate Structure

The upper chamber of Congress comprising $2$ elected senators per state serving $6$-year terms before re-election, totaling $100$ members for the United States.

U.S. House of Representatives Structure

The lower chamber of Congress comprising members serving $2$-year terms before re-election, totaling $435$ members for the United States.

Industrial Hygienist

An occupational health team specialist, such as a chemist or engineer, who assesses workplace environmental exposures to ensure chemical and hazard levels are safe.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

A regulatory agency under the U.S. Department of Labor created by the OSH Act of 1970 that acts as a workplace regulator and enforcer, issuing legally binding standards and assessing fines and citations.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

A scientific agency within the CDC and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created by the OSH Act of 1970 that produces research and evidence-based safety recommendations without the authority to inspect or fine employers.

WSCC Model

The CDC's Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model aimed at preventing chronic disease and promoting the health and well-being of children and adolescents.

School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs)

On-site school clinics that eliminate transportation and scheduling barriers by offering primary care, preventive care, behavioral health, screenings, immunizations, and chronic disease management.

ACT 504 (Louisiana)

State legislation mandating that public schools make a mental health assessment available to students in grades $3$ through $12$.

FERPA

A federal privacy law governing student education records, including school health records maintained by institutions receiving federal education funding.

Severe Mental Illness (SMI)

A diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder causing substantial functional impairment that necessitates ongoing supportive services.

Deinstitutionalization

The historical movement of transferring individuals with psychiatric illnesses out of state institutional facilities and into community-based settings.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

An intensive community treatment model delivering individualized, continuous care directly in the community rather than in traditional acute inpatient facilities.

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

A collaborative program providing specialized training to law enforcement, mental health professionals, advocates, and consumers to manage psychiatric crises safely.

IS PATH WARM?

An evidence-based mnemonic for suicide warning signs: Ideation, Substance abuse, Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopeless, Withdrawn, Angry, Reckless behavior, and Mood changes.