During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Two Articles Examine Actions Nurses Can Take
Two articles in this month’s issue will increase nurses’ awareness of the realities of domestic violence and point to ways they can respond.
A school nurse and women’s advocate.
“Every year, I have mothers of students who are experiencing domestic violence. I see parents and children who are affected by this issue. It’s our job as nurses to see problems and to try to identify causes, trends, and possible solutions.”
The above quote is from Dawn Wilcox, BSN, RN, who was speaking in her capacity as an elementary school nurse, noting that violence against women is a preventable public health issue, one she regularly encounters in her nursing practice.
Wilcox, who I interviewed for this month’s Profile, is also the creator of the United States Femicide Database, accessible on the website of her organization, Women Count USA. It’s the only such catalog of vital details about the women and girls killed by men and boys each year in the United States.
In the article, Wilcox provides practical tips for nurses who are unsure of how to address discrimination, harassment, and violence toward women and girls. For additional information, listen to our discussion on AJN’s Behind the Article podcast.
Asking questions.
In “When ‘Love’ = Death,” […]