Identifying signs of intimate partner violence.

Intimate partner violence is a major public health and social problem that affects people in every community, culture and country. Nurses can play a very important role in identifying victims who present to healthcare settings domestic abuse-related health issues. Evidence suggests that the majority of women who present to emergency departments have experienced domestic abuse at some point in their life, however, only 5% are identified by healthcare professionals. To be able to effectively identify and respond to victims, emergency nurses need to understand domestic abuse and its associated complexities. This article provides an overview of the issue, including the different types of abuse, prevalence, causes and effects on health. It also explores emergency nurses’ roles in identifying and managing various situations they may encounter at work

http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/en.23.9.25.s25