title: At the expense of their souls.
abstract: Thirty experienced public health nurses in western Washington were interviewed to determine how they knew that they had improved their clients' lives. Although they still perceive themselves as making a difference, their remarks reveal that clients' substance abuse and violence are threatening the nurses' own physical and emotional well-being.
authors.affiliation: Seattle's University of Washington.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Zerwekh
mesh_terms: D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D005190:Family; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D012940:Social Problems; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014754:Violence; D014861:Washington