Theresa Wyatt
University of Detroit Mercy, USA
Title: Readiness of Newly Licensed Registered Nurses to Screen for Domestic Violence
Biography
Biography: Theresa Wyatt
Abstract
Numerous barriers to screening patients for domestic violence (DV) appear consistently in research. Existing studies conducted on barriers to screening by nurses identified lack of education and training as a commonly identified barrier to screening. When and how these barriers develop is poorly understood. Qualitative interviews with 16 newly licensed nurses (NLRNs) were conducted to determine if they screen for DV, how they screen for DV, which patients are screened, and how pre-licensure education and current workplace training has influenced these screening. An exploratory qualitative design guided by Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) was used. Sixteen NLRNs who were contacted via a social media (Facebook) ‘sharing’ strategy agreed to participate in the study. Individual interviews were conducted utilizing an open ended interview guide. Data collection and analysis were done concurrently exploring factors influencing screening behaviors. Six themes emerged from the interview data: Preparedness, Uncomfortable, Taboo, Disenchanted, Presumptuous, and an over-arching them, Evolving Truths. In this sample of NLRNs, the overall perception was a lack of education and training on DV. These findings suggest this sample of NLRNs were not taught about or how to screen for DV, and essentially became products of their work environment reporting that if and how diligently they screened was heavily influenced by their peers. There is an interpersonal or intimate nature to screening for DV that is unique and may require highly interactive training throughout pre-licensure education. This study is one of the first to examine how inadequate or lack of inclusion of DV screening in pre-licensure nursing education may affect screening behavior in NLRNs.