Queering Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): An Integrative Review Recognizing Queer Women Experiences and Other Nursing Considerations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a devastating global health issue that impacts more than 1 in 3 women within their lifetime. Health outcomes of IPV can disproportionately impact the LGBTQIA2S+ communities, specifically queer women, including increased rates of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and disability. Risk factors for help-seeking among queer women experiencing IPV, further known as Queer Women-IPV, are complex, and encompass heteronormative and cis-normative assumptions, discrimination, isolation, and stigma within healthcare, including by nurses. Using Whittemore and Knafl's framework for an integrative review, this review identified unique characteristics of Queer Women-IPV. Furthermore, an examination of how stigma and other discriminations impact healthcare access, and recommendations for nursing professionals are provided to ensure empowering care for Queer Women-IPV survivors. Main themes from the findings included differences in Queer Women-IPV tactics and power dynamics; Queer Women-IPV risk factors; health and quality of life outcomes; as well as the influence of stigma on help-seeking behaviors. Nursing has a significant role in ensuring that queer women have safer places and people to turn to. Recommendations for nursing practice and policy include integrating trauma and violence-informed care as universal standards, offering inclusive holistic screening, and instilling LGBTQIA2S+ education for nurses.