Abstract
BackgroundMillennium Developmental Goal 3 (MDG 3) aims at enhancing gender equity and empowerment of women. Emergency nurses who often encounter women injured by their intimate partners are at risk of developing vicarious traumatisation, which may influence their ability to empower women to move beyond the oppression of intimate partner violence.AimThis article aims to, (1) describe emergency nurses’ ways of coping with the exposure to survivors of intimate partner violence, and (2) recommend a way towards effective coping that will enhance emergency nurses’ abilities to empower women to move beyond the oppression of intimate partner violence to contribute to the achievement of MDG 3.SettingThe study was conducted in emergency units of two public hospitals in an urban setting in South Africa.MethodA qualitative design and descriptive phenomenological method was used. Emergency nurses working in the setting were purposively sampled and interviewed. The data were analysed by searching for the essence and meaning attached to the exposure of emergency nurses to survivors of intimate partner violence.ResultsEmergency nurses’ coping responses were either aimed at avoiding or dealing with their exposure to survivors of intimate partner violence. Coping aimed at dealing with the exposure included seeking support, emotion regulation and accommodative coping.ConclusionEmergency nurses employ either effective or ineffective ways of coping. Less effective ways of coping may increase their risk of vicarious and secondary traumatisation, which in turn may influence their ability to empower women to move beyond the oppression of intimate partner violence.
Highlights
Emergency nurses are often in contact with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).[1,2] In this article, the term ‘survivor of IPV’ refers to a female health care user seeking help at an emergency department for health problems related to exposure to physical, psychological and sexual violence inflicted by a current or former male intimate partner.[3,4] By using the term ‘survivor’, the authors acknowledge a woman’s potential to move beyond the oppression of IPV when empowered with the necessary knowledge and assistance.Towards achieving Millennium Development Goal 3 (MDG 3) of promoting gender equality and empowering women, one of the key working areas identified was the response to gender-based violence inflicted by a partner.[5]
This may result in hindering the attaining of the MDG 3 as avoidance creates a barrier to empowering women to move beyond the oppression of IPV
Emergency nurses may play an important role in attaining MDG 3 by identifying and empowering women exposed to IPV
Summary
Towards achieving Millennium Development Goal 3 (MDG 3) of promoting gender equality and empowering women, one of the key working areas identified was the response to gender-based violence inflicted by a partner.[5] Ending violence against women is described as the ‘missing Millennium Development Goal (MDG)’. Policies and programmes to address violence against women are key areas in achieving in MDG 3.6 Even if exposed to seriously injured survivors, nurses are expected to suppress their emotional responses, stay non-judgmental and provide empathetic care.[7] In order to cope with sometimes overwhelming emotional distress, nurses might attempt to avoid situations where they are required to provide care to survivors of IPV.[7] This may result in hindering the attaining of the MDG 3 as avoidance creates a barrier to empowering women to move beyond the oppression of IPV. Emergency nurses who often encounter women injured by their intimate partners are at risk of developing vicarious traumatisation, which may influence their ability to empower women to move beyond the oppression of intimate partner violence
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