Domestic violence: a challenge to accident and emergency nurses

A wide range of victims of assault are admitted to our Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. Their injuries vary from minor to severe trauma and multiple injuries. Lloyd (1991) recognized that the victims of domestic violence are usually female and that the aggressor is almost always known to them. Indeed, the person who administers the assault is often the spouse or partner in a relationship in which there is a regular cycle of abuse. While it is sometimes difficult for A&E nurses to remain impartial it is vital that they do so. It is also essential that the A&E nurse is aware of the support networks that are available and how to access them. Patients arriving at the A&E department following an incident of domestic violence often need protection as well as physical and psychological care. This article aims to explore issues of domestic violence that involve the admission of abused females to A&E departments.