Question 1

A woman has screened positive for intimate partner violence (IPV).The nurse should also assess for: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Victims of IPV often have depression or anxiety.They have been found to be more than three times as likely to be depressed and more than twice as likely to be anxious.Sleep disturbances, including difficulty in falling asleep, have been reported with increased frequency by women who are victims of IPV.PTSD is associated with IPV.Mania and binge behavior do not seem to be connected with IPV.Psychosis and schizophrenia do not seem to be seen with increased frequency in women who are victims of IPV.

Question 2

A nurse has assessed an Asian woman for intimate partner violence (IPV)using the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS).The woman has screened negative.What can the nurse conclude from this screening result?

Accepted Answer

The Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) may not be culturally sensitive or reliable for all populations, including some Asian communities, due to differences in cultural norms, language barriers, and understanding of what constitutes abuse.

Question 3

A nurse is working with a woman who is experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV).The woman states, "At least my children aren't getting hurt." The best response by the nurse is,

Accepted Answer

Children who witness IPV have indirect injuries such as poor health, behavior problems, school problems, and social problems.IPV is associated with increased numbers of child abuse, but predicting that one of the patient's children will get hurt is extremely insensitive and not helpful.Some children do get hurt intervening in a situation of IPV, but this statement is inaccurate, because it implies large numbers of them are injured.Agreeing with the patient that she is "lucky" does nothing to help.The nurse needs to educate the patient on the harmful effects of IPV on her children.

Question 4

A nurse is talking to a friend who thinks the importance of intimate partner violence (IPV)is overrated because only a small percentage of the population is affected.The best response by the nurse is,

Accepted Answer

About 25% to 33% of women in the United States will experience IPV in their lifetimes, and being a survivor of IPV is often associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes.Victims should not be blamed for using resources.Working with victims of IPV to create a plan of care that responds to their needs is no more time consuming than working with other types of patients.It is not a legal requirement to screen all women for IPV, but consensus practice guidelines are available that provide recommendations for when screening should occur.There are a significant number of people affected by IPV, but this response is not specific enough.

Question 5

The nurse can expect to find that what percentage of women encountered during practice will be victims of violence?

Accepted Answer

Violence against women is a global epidemic affecting 35% of women worldwide.

Question 6

The nurse working with female patients assesses each for exposure to the many forms of violence against women, which include: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

There are many forms of violence against women, including acts of sexual violence (rape, sexual assault, trafficking, genital mutilation)and sexual coercion, physical violence (hitting, slapping, kicking, punching), psychological violence (belittling, name calling, isolation), economic violence, and femicide (the killing of a woman).Fraud is not considered to be a form of violence against women.

Question 7

A nurse manager in the emergency department (ED)wants to ensure that the staff conducts thorough and consistent screens for intimate partner violence (IPV)on every woman but is concerned about privacy.The best intervention by the manager would be to formulate a policy that:

Accepted Answer

A policy of admitting only the patient into the ED until the nurse is able to complete a physical assessment and screen for IPV would be most likely to be beneficial and not arouse the suspicion of the batterer.Privacy is of the utmost importance during this time.A policy that pertained only to women would likely make a batterer suspicious, and he and the patient might resist its implementation.Unless the survey was completed in privacy, the woman would not feel safe answering it honestly.Assessing both male and female patients is a good idea because anyone can be the victim of IPV, but filling out a questionnaire in the presence of the batterer would not be safe.

Question 8

The nurse taking a continuing education course in intimate partner violence (IPV)learns what information about the roots of this violence? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

IPV has roots in many societal values, such as male dominance, social gender attitudes, and unequal social power imbalances.Female subservience is not a root cause of IPV.Although in some cases money imbalance may contribute to unequal social power, it is not a specific cause, because violence occurs in all types of households.

Question 9

A nursing student asks the clinic nurse why it is important to find out whether a woman in a violent relationship feels safe leaving the clinic.The best response by the nurse would be to tell the student that:

Accepted Answer

Femicide, the murder of a woman, is the seventh leading cause of premature death in women overall, and it is the most serious consequence of intimate partner violence.The student (and nursing staff)need to ensure the woman feels safe going home.Offering to have police escort the woman home does not explain where the police would escort the woman to, nor does it consider that police may not be available at the time.The law does not require asking specifically whether a woman is safe to leave a medical facility, but there are consensus guidelines on appropriate questioning.Women who are not safe do need referral information, but this answer is too narrow in scope to be the best answer.

Question 10

A nurse in the emergency department (ED)wants to screen a patient for intimate partner violence (IPV), but the woman's partner will not leave her side.Which intervention by the nurse would be best?

Accepted Answer

Telling the patient that she will help her collect a urine sample in the restroom is the best response because it will likely get the woman away from the partner for a short time, during which the nurse can assess for IPV and help the woman make a plan for her safety.In extreme cases, with the woman and partner now separated, the partner can be escorted out and the woman assisted to leave safely.Privacy is of the utmost importance when asking about IPV, and the nurse should ensure the patient's privacy during this time.A nurse should never assess a woman for IPV with the partner present.Bluntly telling the partner he must leave will likely result in anger and resistance on the part of the partner, and the woman may side with the partner and insist he be allowed to remain if she is fearful of the consequences of having him leave.Having security escort the partner to the ED waiting room would be very confrontational, and the patient may become fearful and side with the partner to avoid future violence.

Question 11

A married woman being seen in the clinic has symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI).The best action by the nurse is to:

Accepted Answer

Higher rates of STIs are seen in women who are victims of intimate partner violence.The nurse should suspect the woman is in a violent relationship, and because patient safety comes first, the nurse should assess whether the patient feels safe to go home.Asking whether the patient is "cheating" is judgmental and inappropriate.It also implies that the woman is to blame for her medical problem.Suggesting that the patient's husband is "cheating" is judgmental and does not consider the safety of the patient.The other thing to consider is that some STIs can be asymptomatic in women for long periods of time.Placing blame on either partner is counterproductive and misses the opportunity to assess for violence.Women in violent relationships have higher rates of STIs.Education on how STIs are transmitted and can be prevented is important for any patient who has a suspected STI, but this does not consider the patient's safety, so it is not the best answer.

Question 12

What information about intimate partner violence (IPV)should the nurse understand? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

About 12% of women will be assaulted by their partners annually, according to Tjaden and Thoennes (2000).The prevalence of IPV in male homosexual partners is roughly the same as in heterosexual partners.Most IPV is male against female, but men can be victims, too.More than 7% of women have been sexually assaulted in their lifetimes.Lesbian relationships have a slightly lower rate of IPV than heterosexual relationships.

Question 13

A nurse is evaluating the plan of care for a woman who has experienced intimate partner violence (IPV).The nurse would evaluate that goals had been met when the woman:

Accepted Answer

Women should always feel that they have choices.Often women think their only choice is to stay or leave, when in reality there are several options.Leaving the abuser may sound like the best choice to the nurse, but for the woman, it may not be feasible at the time.Plus, this would not necessarily indicate that goals had been met.Likewise, the woman staying with the abuser does not necessarily mean that goals were not met.It is good for the woman to have resources, such as hotline numbers, at her fingertips, but she may not be ready to make a call to a hotline yet.For many women, pressing charges is a scary prospect, although women should know that contacting the police and filing charges are options.

Question 14

A nurse wants to begin screening all women encountered during clinic visits for intimate partner violence (IPV)but is uncomfortable and worried about making the women uncomfortable, too.The nurse manager should teach this nurse to say,

Accepted Answer

The statement "I ask all my female patients if they are getting hurt or are afraid of their partners" is the best option because it shows empathy and interest and does not make it seem that this particular woman has some sign that has caused the nurse to ask about IPV.This open and nonjudgmental statement can lead to disclosure by the woman.The statement "All women should be able to tell someone if they are in an abusive relationship" can put a lot of pressure on the woman to fit in with "all women." Plus, it does not show any empathy or interest on the part of the nurse.Also, the word "abusive" may sound judgmental, and the woman may not identify her relationship with that term.The statement "I need to ask you some questions about domestic abuse if that is OK with you" sounds as though it is a task the nurse must accomplish and gives the woman the opportunity to decline assessment.Also, the phrase "domestic abuse" is not accurate and may be misconstrued as only meaning violence that happens inside the home or by a person living in the home with the woman.IPV can occur anywhere.The statement "This clinic has a policy of assessing women for being in abusive relationships" does not show any interest or empathy by the nurse.The word "abusive" may sound judgmental, and the woman may not identify her relationship with that term.

Question 15

The nurse using standardized assessment tools to screen for intimate partner violence (IPV)knows what facts about the tools? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

The AAS has a body drawing on which the nurse can mark injuries and includes a question about abuse during pregnancy, which can be omitted if the patient is not pregnant.The WEB scale includes questioning about coercive behaviors and psychological abuse.The AAS was recently updated to include strangulation behaviors.

Question 16

A nurse has assessed that a woman is a victim of intimate partner violence (IPV).The woman feels safe to go home from the clinic.The priority action by the nurse would be to:

Accepted Answer

Having a sound safety plan for both herself and her children would be the priority for this woman.Giving the woman resources and information is very important, but it is not as comprehensive as helping her create a safety plan for herself and her children.Allowing the woman to make phone calls from the clinic phones (which cannot be monitored or traced by the abuser)is a valuable service to offer, but it is not as comprehensive as helping her create a safety plan for both herself and her children.Letting the woman know that you are available to help her will be important both now and in the future, but it is not the best answer because it is not as comprehensive or safety oriented as helping her create a safety plan.

Question 17

A nurse working in a community clinic usually is consistent about screening women for intimate partner violence (IPV).However, the nursing manager found two charts during an audit in which the nurse did not do the screening.When asked, the nurse stated that the two women were lesbians, so she did not need to screen them.What response by the manager is best?

Accepted Answer

Intimate partners are described as "current and former husbands and wives, same-sex partners, boyfriends, and girlfriends," so the nurse should screen these patients too.There is no specific screening tool for same-sex partners.The policy may be to screen all patients, but this statement does not give the nurse-specific information about this situation.Lesbians have a somewhat lower rate of IPV than heterosexual couples do.

Question 18

A patient presents to the clinic with a sore throat and sinus pain, but the nurse notices several bruises of different ages, including some on her face.When asked, the patient states she fell down the stairs last week.Which action by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

Gently confronting the patient with the fact that the injuries are not consistent with the explanation lets the patient know you suspect another cause of the injury and gives her time to tell the story.Many times the patient will confide in the nurse at this point but not always.Asking the patient bluntly may result in the patient denying that she is being injured.Also, the patient may not self-identify with the word "abused." Nurses should know the law in the states where they practice; this action may be required in some locations.However, unless required, the nurse should not take this action; to call law enforcement without the patient's consent and without the patient admitting to being injured may cause the patient to lose trust in the nurse.Documenting the injuries is very important, but the nurse should follow up with further questions about the injuries, especially if they appear suspicious.

Question 19

A nurse working in the emergency department explains to a student nurse that the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE)works with victims of intimate partner violence (IPV)to provide: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

SANEs are specially trained forensic nurses who provide evidence collection to victims of sexual violence and IPV.SANEs are specially trained forensic nurses who provide health evaluations to victims of sexual violence and IPV.SANEs do not provide psychological counseling.SANEs are specially trained forensic nurses who provide necessary treatment to victims of sexual violence and IPV.

Question 20

A new nurse working in an obstetrics (OB)practice questions the rationale for screening all OB patients for intimate partner violence (IPV).The best answer by the nurse's mentor is ,

Accepted Answer

Most women do seek health care during their pregnancy, so OB nurses see a high number of women.This makes OB visits an ideal time to screen for IPV.Battering does not slow down during pregnancy.IPV rates are similar to the rates in the rest of the population, but being pregnant does increase a woman's risk for femicide.Although it should be a routine part of every nurse's practice to screen for IPV, this is not the best answer to explain why the OB staff specifically should screen for IPV.It is not true that pregnant women tend to be more emotional and more willing to confide in nurses.

Quiz 18: Violence Against Women: an Epidemic and a Health Issue

A woman has screened positive for intimate partner violence (IPV) .The nurse should also assess for: (Select all that apply.)

A nurse has assessed an Asian woman for intimate partner violence (IPV) using the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) .The woman has screened negative.What can the nurse conclude from this screening result?

A nurse is working with a woman who is experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) .The woman states, "At least my children aren't getting hurt." The best response by the nurse is,

A nurse is talking to a friend who thinks the importance of intimate partner violence (IPV) is overrated because only a small percentage of the population is affected.The best response by the nurse is,

The nurse can expect to find that what percentage of women encountered during practice will be victims of violence?

The nurse working with female patients assesses each for exposure to the many forms of violence against women, which include: (Select all that apply.)

A nurse manager in the emergency department (ED) wants to ensure that the staff conducts thorough and consistent screens for intimate partner violence (IPV) on every woman but is concerned about privacy.The best intervention by the manager would be to formulate a policy that:

The nurse taking a continuing education course in intimate partner violence (IPV) learns what information about the roots of this violence? (Select all that apply.)

A nursing student asks the clinic nurse why it is important to find out whether a woman in a violent relationship feels safe leaving the clinic.The best response by the nurse would be to tell the student that:

A nurse in the emergency department (ED) wants to screen a patient for intimate partner violence (IPV) , but the woman's partner will not leave her side.Which intervention by the nurse would be best?

A married woman being seen in the clinic has symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) .The best action by the nurse is to:

What information about intimate partner violence (IPV) should the nurse understand? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse is evaluating the plan of care for a woman who has experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) .The nurse would evaluate that goals had been met when the woman:

A nurse wants to begin screening all women encountered during clinic visits for intimate partner violence (IPV) but is uncomfortable and worried about making the women uncomfortable, too.The nurse manager should teach this nurse to say,

The nurse using standardized assessment tools to screen for intimate partner violence (IPV) knows what facts about the tools? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse has assessed that a woman is a victim of intimate partner violence (IPV) .The woman feels safe to go home from the clinic.The priority action by the nurse would be to:

A patient presents to the clinic with a sore throat and sinus pain, but the nurse notices several bruises of different ages, including some on her face.When asked, the patient states she fell down the stairs last week.Which action by the nurse is best?

A nurse working in the emergency department explains to a student nurse that the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) works with victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) to provide: (Select all that apply.)

A new nurse working in an obstetrics (OB) practice questions the rationale for screening all OB patients for intimate partner violence (IPV) .The best answer by the nurse's mentor is ,