Domestic violence : abused women's experiences of encountering nurses

Background: Women who are suffering in abusive relationships is a societal problem and a tragedy. A third of the women in the world have been exposed to physical and/or sexual violence and every year in Sweden seventeen women are killed as a result of domestic violence. Nurses in every part of the healthcare system encounter abused women. Aim: This study aimed to illuminate the experiences abused women have of their encounter with nurses. Method: A literature-based study based on analysis of eleven qualitative scientific studies. Results: The results revealed that abused women were afraid and worried about the consequences a revelation of the abuse would have on their life. The results showed that women experienced that nurses failed to see them as persons and did not take the time to talk to them. The women experienced that the nurses had a lack of understanding and empathy for their situation. When a woman had a relationship with a nurse that were based on trust, this enabled the woman to disclose the abuse. Conclusion: The women are experiencing a lot of fear. When the women meet nurses who lack empathy, are stressed and only focus their care on injuries, this becomes a barrier for the exposure of violence. When women meet nurses who possess understanding, a will to listen and to build trust, this becomes an enabling factor to the exposure of violenc