In the time it takes to read this sentence, at least two adults in the United States will have suffered some form of violence at the hands of their intimate partner.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) suggest that, on average, nearly 20 people each minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S. That adds up to more than 10 million people, both women and men.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and while domestic violence has far-reaching consequences on the physical, mental, emotional, and even economic health of millions, the external signs are not always obvious.
Learn more about the roles nurses play in caring for survivors of sexual assault in our new 40-hour Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Adult and Adolescent Core Course.
At its root, intimate partner violence is about power and control. As the NCADV summarizes it, “Violence in relationships occurs when one person feels entitled to power and control over their partner and chooses to use abuse to gain and maintain that control.” Abuse may be physical, sexual, psychological, economic, or a combination of those tactics, which may make it difficult or impossible for the victim to leave the relationship.
Understanding the dynamics in these relationships can help healthcare professionals identify abuse and provide patients with help and resources.
Join presenter Allyson Cordoni, APN, CNP, SANE-A, SANE-P, in a free webinar examining domestic violence patterns and abuser tactics, where she provides evidence-based interventions to help the victims.
Enroll in the free webinar, Domestic Violence 101.
If you or someone you love is suffering domestic violence or abuse, help is available. For anonymous, confidential help 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) now.
