ABSTRACT
Introduction This chapter explores vulnerability and introduces you to principles of safeguarding, a concept that is relevant to all nurses in any setting; caring for people who are vulnerable is a fundamental, founding principle of the nursing profession (Dorsen 2010). Training in safeguarding children and adults is mandatory for all healthcare professionals and is an essential element of a nursing course. Health services have a duty to safeguard all service users and provide additional measures for people who are less able to protect themselves from harm or abuse (Department of Health [DH] 2011). Indeed:
Living a life that is free from harm and abuse is a fundamental human right of every person and an essential requirement for health and well being.
