Opportunity for Nursing

Opportunity for Nursing

Opportunity for Nursing

Nurses have the skills and education to take a leadership role in addressing violence and abuse on

multiple levels, as providers, researchers, policy analysts, educators, and advocates. Efforts to

address violence against children, women, and older adults have met with impressive successes

over the past decades. These forms of violence, seen as largely justifiable and perhaps even

necessary in the past, are now recognized as both crimes and important public health problems. The

evidence base for interventions to prevent these forms of violence, end them when they start, and

mitigate the related health consequences is growing. It is clear, however, that we still have

important gaps in our understanding of both effective violence interventions and policies. Although

we work to address these gaps in knowledge, we can continue to move forward on numerous

fronts. Educators should ensure that curriculums at all levels include content on violence and

abuse. Given the high rates and significant health effects of violence, all nurses should have basic

clinical knowledge of how to assess for, competently respond to, and appropriately refer all patients

with a history of violence or abuse. Nurses can serve as powerful advocates for victims of violence,

ensuring that state and federal laws meet the highest standards.

Violence and crime unite two powerful systems, health care and criminal justice, and involve

multiple professionals including physicians, nurses, social services, police, lawyers, and judges.

Prevention and intervention strategies require efforts at the individual, community, institutional,

and public policy levels. Nurses can have a significant voice in ensuring the best possible

prevention and advocacy services at the local, state, and federal levels. Nursing research and the

testimony of nurses has been foundational for federal and state laws and resulting public policy

related to violence.

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Discussion Questions

1. Consider the differences in the treatment of violence across states and what federal provisions

might be advantageous to address the discrepancies.

2. How might nursing research help to fill the gaps in the knowledge?

3. It is apparent in the chapter that different strategies exist for violence against women, child

maltreatment, and older adult abuse. Could the same strategies work across populations and abuse

types? What might be the advantages/disadvantages to having similar strategies?

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References

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fatalities 2011: Statistics and interventions. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Administration for Children and Families: Washington, DC; 2011.

Amar A, Laughon K, Sharps P, Campbell J. Screening and counseling for violence against

women in primary care settings. Nursing Outlook. 2013;61(3):187–191.

Avellar SA, Supplee LH. Effectiveness of home visiting in improving child health and

reducing child maltreatment. Pediatrics. 2013;132(10, Suppl. 2):S90–S99.

Barata PC, Schneider F. Battered women add their voices to the debate about the merits of

mandatory arrest. Women’s Studies Quarterly. 2004;32(3–4):148.

Black MC, Basile KC, Breiding MJ, Smith SG, Walters ML, et al. The national intimate partner

and sexual violence survey (NISVS): 2010 summary report. National Center for Injury

Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA; 2011.

Bonomi AE, Anderson ML, Rivara FP, Thompson RS. Health care utilization and costs

associated with physical and nonphysical-only intimate partner violence. Health Services

Research. 2009;44(3):1052–1067.

Brzonkala v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598, 627. 2000.

Campbell JC. Health consequences of intimate partner violence. Lancet. 2002;359(9314):1331–

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