One of the most challenging questions asked by public health nurses is, “what can I say or do if my client shares that she is experiencing intimate partner violence?” In Canada, November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which gives us an opportunity to remember that an individual’s current (or past) experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts their physical, mental, emotional and reproductive/sexual health. In home visitation programs, public health nurses are strongly positioned to identify and assess, and then in collaboration with the client, implement a tailored plan of support, that prioritizes safety for the individual experiencing violence (and their children). As part of their professional practice, it is therefore critical that public health nurses have the knowledge and skills to identify and assess for IPV, respond appropriately to disclosures of violence, and work collaboratively to develop, implement and evaluate tailored plans of care to meet the client’s needs. For public health units looking to develop or revise local orientation or professional development programs on the topic of “intimate partner violence,” PHN-PREP has developed a tailorable curriculum to assist with your planning. This curriculum includes examples of learning outcomes, teaching strategies (including links to evidence-informed, Canadian-developed, free e-learning modules and some US-based foundational content), and links to PHN-PREP practice resources.
Alternatively, if your public health unit is interested in a workshop on any of these topics, tailored to your team’s needs, please contact Dr. Susan Jack ([email protected]).