Ambulance Nurses' Experience of a Simulation Exercise Concerning Intimate Partner Violence

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Emergency Medical Services

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern with severe consequences.
• Nurses, particularly ambulance nurses, are uniquely positioned to identify IPV due to home visits.
• Existing research highlights knowledge and confidence gaps in nurses' ability to detect IPV, with limited studies on simulation training for ambulance personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively evaluate an intervention for ambulance nurses involving simulation training on intimate partner violence (IPV).
• To explore ambulance nurses' experiences and work practices related to IPV following the intervention.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative intervention study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• Simulation pedagogy employed for training 7 ambulance nurses on managing suspected IPV cases.
• Content analysis used to analyze interview data on participants' experiences with simulation and its impact on their practice.

Main Results:

• Simulation training provided new insights and realistic patient encounters for nurses.
• The intervention positively altered nurses' working methods and increased their awareness of teamwork's importance.
• Participants reported increased confidence in inquiring about violence exposure, leading to more patients being asked about IPV.

Conclusions:

• Simulation training enhances ambulance nurses' confidence and competence in addressing IPV.
• Realistic, interactive training is crucial for improving knowledge and practical strategies in identifying and supporting IPV survivors.
• Findings suggest applicability to other nursing contexts, potentially improving IPV identification and support across diverse healthcare settings.