Oklahoma Nurses Association 2005 House of Delegates resolution. Intimate partner violence assessment, intervention...

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), physical and/or sexual assault of a spouse or intimate partner, has been highly associated with severe health problems such as chronic pain, recurring central nervous system symptoms, injuries, chronic disabilities, gastrointestinal disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, gynecological disorders, unintended pregnancies, depression, substance abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder. Statistically, 40-50% of women in IPV experience both physical and sexual assault. IPV is also associated with 3-13% of pregnancies, posing a threat to health and risk of death for the mother or fetus or both from trauma. Further, 40-60% of female murders in North America are committed by intimate partners. Oklahoma ranks 13th in the nation for women murdered by men in single victim, single offender incidents. IPV associated mortality also includes suicide of women with chronic depression related to violence. Women involved with IPV utilize health care providers and the health care system 3 times more frequently than non-battered women' and generate 92% more health plan costs per year as compared to non-battered women. There is sufficient research concurrence to demonstrate a significant number of women in Oklahoma, the nation and world have severe short and long term physical and mental health effects from IPV. Some victims of IPV may turn to health care professionals for help while other victims are fearful of asking for such assistance. Therefore, it is critical that nurses, as the largest group of health care providers and often the first to come in contact with a victim of IPV, do not miss an opportunity for accurate assessment, appropriate intervention and documentation of IPV in order to provide for a safe, timely and healthy resolution.