NCJ Number
198069
Journal
On The Edge Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2001 Pages: 1,3,10
Date Published
2001
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article describes an interpersonal violence interview tool developed and used in New Mexico in order to combat domestic violence.
Abstract
Focusing on combating domestic violence, the article discusses the development of a New Mexico interpersonal violence interview tool by emergency room nurses, made possible by a grant from the Federal Violence Against Women Act. Finding that many emergency room (ER) nurses were not formally trained in filling out domestic violence tools, taking photographs, and making referrals, the author worked with emergency room nurses at St. Vincent Hospital in New Mexico in order to develop a screening tool to assist ER nurses in asking abused women about their abusive relationships. After detailing various forms that abuse may take, the article presents the design of the Domestic Violence tool developed at St. Vincent’s Hospital. The Domestic Violence tool, intended to ask questions about sexual assault, spirituality, and economic abuse within the domestic environment, comprises the patient’s medical history, the patient’s history of access to health care, and a self-generated description of the patient specifically intended to assess psychological, economic, physical, emotional, sexual, and spiritual abuse. As the Domestic Violence tool is used during an examination, there are opportunities for ER nurses to provide both patient education and patient safety planning. Concluding with suggestions for improving the Domestic Violence tool over time, the author suggests finding ways to get patients to return to the hospital for follow-up photographs. The article concludes by presenting a debriefing statement, information concerning the involvement of law enforcement officials, and several sample pages from the Interpersonal Violence tool.