The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
Vol. 38 No. 1 January/February 2007
By Lisa Yonaka, RN, MSN; Marian K. Yoder, EdD, RN; Janet B. Darrow, RN, MS; John P. Sherck, MD
ABSTRACT
The identification of victims of domestic violence is important to prevent further abuse and injury. The purposes of this pilot project were to identify potential barriers emergency department registered nurses encounter in screening patients for domestic violence and to assess nurses’ educational backgrounds for continuing education and training needs. The most significant potential barriers to screening identified were a lack of education and instruction on how to ask questions about abuse, language barriers between nurses and patients, a personal or family history of abuse, and time issues. These findings may benefit other researchers who are trying to determine the continuing education needs of emergency department staffs.
AUTHORS
Ms. Yonaka is Trauma Program Director, Dr. Yoder is Professor, and Ms. Darrow is Faculty and Lecturer, San Jose State University, San Jose, California. Dr. Sherck is Trauma Medical Director, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California.
Address correspondence to Lisa Yonaka, RN, MSN, 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128.
