Victims of Abuse and Violence Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the characteristics, signs, types, and nursing interventions related to victims of abuse and violence based on Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing, 4th Edition.

Abuse Within the Family

A category of abuse that includes child abuse, spousal/domestic violence, sexual abuse, and elder abuse, which can manifest as violence, emotional abuse, or neglect.

Characteristics of Abusers

Common traits including having been abused themselves, low self-esteem, a need for power, alcohol or drug dependency, and usually being known to their victims.

Characteristics of Victims/Survivors

Common traits including low self-esteem, a dependent or codependent-type personality, and physical, financial, or emotional reliance on the abuser.

General Signs to Suspect Abuse

Indicators such as unexplained recurrent injuries, bruising/bleeding in unexpected areas, withdrawal from friends, frequent bladder infections, and fear of a partner or caretaker.

Child Abuse

Abuse involving physical, emotional, sexual, or neglectful treatment, where the victims aged birth to $2$ years have the highest death rate.

Sexual Abuse

Violent or nonviolent sexual contact or activity that is unwanted by the receiver, including rape, incest, and sexual harassment.

Domestic Violence

Also known as spousal or intimate partner abuse, this includes physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse.

Cycle of Abuse

The repeating pattern of domestic violence consisting of three phases: tension building, battering incident, and honeymoon.

Elder Abuse

Abuse where the victim is often dependent on an abuser who is usually in a caregiver role, such as a hired caregiver or family member.

Respite care

A form of specialized counseling and support used in the treatment of abusers to provide temporary relief and prevent further violence.

First Action for Suspected Abuse

The primary nursing intervention when abuse is suspected, which is to ensure the patient is safe from the potential abuser.

Mandatory Reporters

The legal status of nurses regarding child abuse, requiring them to report suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.

LPNs/LVNs Role in Advocacy

Nurses who can serve as volunteers for abuse cases or may be employed by community agencies to advocate for survivors.