Pediatric nurses: advocates against youth violence

This article examines the issues of youth violence and the role of the pediatric nurse in addressing youth at risk for violence. An example of a school-based violence prevention program is included.

Black adolescent males from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and violent communities tend to be at highest risk. However, the profile of risk for violence is expanding to include youth in rural and middle-class suburban settings.

Pediatric nurses play a vital role in the identification of at-risk youth and in the planning and evaluation of interventions for youth violence prevention.