Janice Humphreys, PhD, RN, NP, FAAN

Intimate partner violence is a global health and social problem which occurs in all countries and in all economic, social, religious and cultural groups, and results in tremendous personal and social costs (World Health Organization, 2002; 2005). Understanding and reducing the long-term health consequences of intimate partner violence is a complex problem which requires collaboration among policy makers and service providers in health, domestic violence, social service, and legal sectors, community stakeholders and women themselves. The response should focus both on preventing intimate partner violence by working to address its root causes and addressing the consequences of intimate partner violence by supporting women who have experienced intimate partner violence to reduce the violence, gain access to needed resources, and strengthen their personal capacities.

Intimate partner violence has received considerable attention from nurse-researchers for more than 30 years. In the first comprehensive review of nursing research conducted in 1992, Campbell and Parker identified less than sixty data based reports. While the number and sophistication of research has changed over time, nursing research on intimate partner violence has not lost its perspective. Nurse-researchers have continued to be concerned with women survivors’ full range of human responses to violence. The purpose of this presentation is to review nursing’s contribution to understanding and addressing intimate partner violence. Themes will be identified in nursing’s advancement of science and healthcare for abused women. Selected research will be reported to illustrate the broader themes. In addition, future directions for nursing research, practice and education are suggested as well as strategies to enhance these goals.