Nurses' Perceived Sense of Self-Efficacy and Communication in Domestic Violence Screening

Nurses working in health care settings, especially nurses working in emergency rooms and urgent care settings, play a crucial role in the identification, prevention, and management of domestic violence. However, nurses with lower self-efficacy relative to communication about this role may face increased challenges in job performance. Grounded in Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the goal of this quantitative study utilizing a survey design was to investigate the relationships between nurse education and training and their perceived sense of self-efficacy in screening for domestic violence. Participants included a convenience sample of 86 registered nurses aged 18 and above holding state licenses. Linear regression analyses revealed an insignificant relationship between the number of hours in domestic violence education and training nurses received and their perceived sense of self-efficacy in their communication skills screening victims suspected of domestic violence. Future research can contribute to positive social change by expanding on these findings to better clarify the relationship between screener self-efficacy and support of those affected by domestic violence