A woman who has been repeatedly abused by her partner comes to the emergency department with severe contusions.She tells the nurse, "I was almost killed me this time.I need to do something." What is the nurse's priority intervention?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's priority intervention should be to help the patient devise a safety or escape plan. This is important to ensure that the patient is protected from further harm and has a plan in place to leave the abusive situation. While documenting the injuries and providing referrals are important interventions, they should be secondary to establishing a safety plan. Encouraging the patient to take independent action could potentially put her in further danger, as leaving an abusive situation can be difficult and dangerous.

A Woman Who Has Been Repeatedly Abused by Her Partner