Injury as a global phenomenon of concern in nursing science

To discuss injury research as a phenomenon of concern in nursing science.

Injury is defined as the physical damage that results when the human body is briefly subjected to intolerable levels of energy. It is the leading cause of death in the first 4 decades of life in high-income nations and is second only to infectious diseases as a leading cause of death in low- and middle-income nations.

Review and discussion of relevant scientific and theoretical literature in both injury and nursing science.

Nurse scientists can apply unique perspectives to increase understanding of injury and its consequences. Fertile areas for nursing inquiry include identifying people at risk, developing models to explain the association between risk-taking and injury, testing interventions to prevent and limit injury, and creating and refining interventions that are culturally relevant to subpopulations most at risk for injury.

The mandate to improve global heath should lead to nursing inquiry about this phenomenon, including developing and testing interventions to prevent and reduce injury.