Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Nurses in Safety and Support Initiatives

Export Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread public health concern that has negative physical, psychological, and social effects. Nurses, as frontline healthcare practitioners, play an important role in recognizing and supporting victims of IPV. This study aims to assess the role of nurses in providing survivors with safety and support measures, as well as the consequences of such empowerment for healthcare outcomes. This study reviewed previous literatures and screened for eligibility, with a search year of 2018–2024 to capture the identified variables in the review objectives. In our literature search, we discovered the following: the cycle of violence, forms of intimate relationship violence, consequence of intimate partner violence, social ecological model, and nurses’ role. In conclusion, we learned from our review that in order for nurses to play roles in safety and support initiatives for people suffering from IPV, they must be trained in recognizing IPV indicators and creating a safe environment for disclosure. As part of their duties, nurses should provide emotional support, validate the survivor’s story, and provide information about available resources and options. Nurses are also in charge of documenting injuries, providing medical care, and referring survivors to appropriate services such as shelters, counseling, legal assistance, and support groups to help them rebuild their lives safely.