Challenges of caring for victims of violence and their family members in the emergency department

• IntroductionInterpersonal violence causes illness and suffering for victims and their family members. Emergency nurses are often given responsibility for forensic patients and their family members, but there is limited knowledge of their experiences regarding this task. This study aimed to describe nurses' experiences when caring for victims of violence and their family members in the emergency department.MethodsIndividual interviews were conducted with twelve nurses from seven emergency departments. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe analysis resulted in the theme: a challenge to create a caring encounter. Hindering factors comprising this challenge are described under four categories: struggling to intervene and talk about violence; contradictions when caring for family members; being helped by forensic guidelines but needing more knowledge; and dealing with one’s own strong emotions towards violence.DiscussionCreating a caring encounter is perceived as a prerequisite to providing forensic care. Nurses often felt hindered to act and forensic issues were left unaddressed. Family members are offered little or no support in the aftermath of violence. The hindering factors must be overcome to ensure forensic care for victims of all types of violence.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Victims of violence

Family

Emergency

Nursing

Forensic care

Experiences

Omvårdnad

Nursing

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)