Practice Recommendations

Recommendation
1.0 Nurses implement routine universal screening for woman abuse in all health care settings.
2.0 Universal screening be implemented for all females 12 years of age and older.
3.0 Nurses develop skills to foster an environment that facilitates disclosure. This necessitates that nurses know: how to ask the question; and how to respond.
4.0 Nurses develop screening strategies and initial responses that respond to the needs of all women taking into account differences based on race, ethnicity, class, religious/spiritual beliefs, age, ability or sexual orientation.
5.0 Nurses use reflective practice to examine how their own beliefs, values, and experiences influence the practice of screening.
6.0 Nurses know what to document when screening for and responding to abuse.
7.0 Nurses know their legal obligations when a disclosure of abuse is made.