Preparing to Intervene in Intimate Partner Violence: An Interprofessional Safety Planning and Assessment Simulation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Within the healthcare system, identification and intervention for intimate partner violence (IPV) are critical, yet often hindered by siloed operations among healthcare workers. Effective interprofessional collaboration is pivotal for timely and appropriate interventions. This article describes an interprofessional educational simulation involving nursing and social work students. Pairs engaged in risk assessment and safety planning for IPV. In the pilot run with 140 nursing and 137 social work students, post-simulation results increased confidence (t = 5.25, p = .001) and positive evaluation of IPV knowledge (t = 63.22, p = .001). Focus groups underscored team synergy, communication skills, and prior experiences as critical elements. Future projects should expand simulation scopes to address diverse situations and include additional professions interacting with survivors.