Previous domestic violence (DV) research has focused on the abused persons' experiences of abuse (Gerbert, Abercrombie et al, 1999), social support for abused women (Rose et al., 2000), how physicians identify victims, and the dynamics of the caregiver-patient relationship that lead to disclosure over time (Gerbert, Caspers et al., 1999). Nurses in certain settings are in a pivotal position to recognize "red flags" that may signal a person in an abusive relationship. Their opportunities for observation span substantial periods of time when interpersonal interaction between patient and partner and patient and nurse occur. In many settings, professional nurses are charged with screening for DV. In some, but not all, health care organizations they receive continuing education before being expected to take this role.
In this study, 20 nurses working in two emergency rooms, one in-patient psychiatric unit, one childbearing unit, and an inner-city clinic participated in tape-recorded focus groups designed to elicit their experiences with DV screening. Atlas.ti software was used to code and categorize data in preparation for thematic analysis. Based on preliminary analyses, key issues identified include tension between providing family centered care and gaining time alone with the "patient" for screening, differentiating psychotic thought processes from valid descriptions of abuse, screening non-English speaking patients using an interpreter, and finding appropriate times and ways to screen. Nurses spoke to the usefulness of education about DV and the importance of having repeated opportunities to go beyond "DV 101." Data analyses will be completed this spring and final results presented.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe key issues encountered by nurses who are working on the front lines in emergency rooms, in-patient psychiatric settings, and childbearing settings and are responsible for domestic violence (DV) screening. 2. Describe barriers to DV screening encountered by these nurses. 3. Describe strategies used to overcome barriers ot DV screening. 4. List suggestions of nurses who screen for DV about what would facilitate them in doing more effective screening.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Screening
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.