Action and intervention plan for nurses in the system of domestic violence prevention

Domestic violence is a complex and cross-disciplinary issue that engages experts from the field of social sciences, legal education and medical sciences. This cross-disciplinary character of domestic violence is present both in the theoretical discourse on the issue as well as on the level of practical actions that should be undertaken in order to prevent violence in families. It is commonly known that we need to develop a complex preventive system enabling a quick and continuous information flow and a cooperation of representatives from various institutions such as police, social welfare institutions, educational institutions, medical care institutions. This complex preventive system should heighten the effectiveness of preventive and remedial actions. The text presents a special action and intervention plan developed for medical staff, especially for nurses, caregivers, surgical nurses, paediatric nurse, emergency-care nurse, because it is these nurses that most often encounter victims of domestic violence. We can divide the potential actions that can be undertaken by nurses into violence prevention, intervention, medical care, emotional and informational support given to the victims of violence. Furthermore, the text presents aims and objectives of the amendment of Domestic Violence Prevention Act from the year 2010. The text describes also the issue of barriers that hinder the functioning of the support system for the families experiencing violence.