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I want to acknowledge my husband, Conway, for his continued support throughout my career. I also greatly appreciate my children, mother, sister and her family, and brothers and their families. I think that they built the wings that keep me afloat. I also thank my many coworkers and colleagues for the support offered while I worked on this book.
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I thank my family for patience and understanding, especially my husband, Ray, as I took time away from "life" to work on this book, which I consider very important in improving care of the forensic patient. The encouragement I received from many in my life—family, friends, and close colleagues—was invaluable.
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We offer our sincere thanks to the authors with whom we worked for their wisdom and insight regarding forensic nursing practice. They shared their years of experience and knowledge at a level that all practicing nurses can understand and grasp. We hope that the readers of this book benefit and learn from reading it, as we did while working on it. We are also excited about the changes that will be seen in practice that can potentially affect the lives of myriad patients who are seeking healthcare and experiencing forensic issues.
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Finally, we would be remiss if we didn't thank the editorial team that helped us through this process. Emily Hatch, our acquisitions editor, believed in us and provided encouragement and guidance throughout the process. Carla Hall, our principal book editor, and Rebecca Senninger, our project editor, were instrumental in crafting the final product. What they do to make each and every chapter special is a result of their vast expertise and editing abilities. Their patience and support was amazing. We learned so much from each of them as we worked through the creation of this book.
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To each of you and to the entire behind-the-scenes folks at Sigma Theta Tau International, we extend heartfelt appreciation.