What is it about?
To report a study of emergency nurses’ experiences of caring for survivors of intimate partner violence.
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Why is it important?
Emergency nurses have the opportunity to intervene during the period following exposure to intimate partner violence when survivors are most receptive for interventions. The confrontation with the trauma of intimate partner violence can, however, affect emergency nurses’ ability to engage empathetically with survivors, which is fundamental to all interventions.
Perspectives
Emergency nurses in South Africa are often witnesses of the emotional and physical effects of intimate partner violence. Exposure to the vulnerability and suffering of survivors elicits sympathy and emotional distress. Emergency nurses are left with the emotional impact and disruptive and recurrent memories. Exploring the tacit internal experiences related to caring for survivors of intimate partner violence revealed emergency nurses’ vulnerability to the effects of secondary traumatic stress. The findings generated an opportunity to develop guidelines through which to support and empower emergency nurses.
Prof Anna Elizabeth van der Wath
University of Pretoria
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Emergency nurses' experiences of caring for survivors of intimate partner violence, Journal of Advanced Nursing, February 2013, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/jan.12099.
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