In this study, the author investigated the characteristics of US asylum seekers undergoing evaluation by an advanced practice forensic nurse. Twenty-one petitioners from 14 countries, ranging in age from 17 to 53 years, were examined. All asylum seekers were evaluated, based upon US asylum granting standards for 'persecution' and 'well-founded fear of future persecution' arising from asylum seekers' race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. The methods used to persecute asylum seekers included sexual violence, physical violence, threatened physical violence, intimidation and psychological violence. These types of torture were grouped according to world region, gender, age group and the presence of forensic markers or evidence. Study limitations and forensic nursing role opportunities are discussed.

Asylum seekers human rights Mental health Refugee Torture Forensic nurse

medical assessment Psychiatric Nursing nursing race difference human Refugees middle aged violence controlled study medical practice religion human rights United States Physician's Practice Patterns social status Humans mental patient Adolescent male female clinical article sexual abuse Article adult politics Emigration and Immigration Pilot Projects forensic psychiatry Torture