Citation

Shull P, Van Sell S, O'Quinn L. NASN Sch. Nurse 2008; 23(3): 20-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, National Association of School Nurses, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/104747570802300311

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The school nurse may be the first health care professional to intervene and provide care for the student who is self-injurious. Defining self-injury is a topic of debate. In 1930, Karl Menninger first described the trend as "wrist-cutting syndrome." As health care providers, a clear definition is any self-inflicted harm to the body. This includes cutting, burning, scalding, scraping, bone breaking, and insertion of injurious objects into the body. Cutting with a sharp object, such as a razor blade, scissors, or safety pin, is usually done superficially.Progressing to deeper cuts is the most common form of self-injurious behavior. Burning with a cigarette or lighter is also common. Many people include body piercing, eating disorders, alcohol, and drug abuse as self-injury.

Language: en