Care of Patients Experiencing Abuse and Violence

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and nursing responsibilities related to abuse, violence, and resilience, aligned with Unit 14 lecture content.

Abuse

Wrongful use or maltreatment of another person; may be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, or neglectful.

Child Abuse

Intentional injury, neglect, emotional harm, or sexual exploitation of a person under 18; must be reported to CPS.

Elder Abuse

Physical, emotional, sexual, financial exploitation, abandonment, or self-neglect of adults ≥65 (or dependent adults); reportable to Adult Protective Services.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Pattern of assaultive behaviors—including physical, sexual, or psychological attacks—by a current or former partner to gain power and control.

Sexual Assault

Any non-consensual sexual act, including rape, fondling, incest, sodomy, and exploitation; crime of power and control.

Workplace Violence

Acts or threats of violence toward staff at work (coworkers, patients, families, outsiders); ranges from verbal aggression to physical assault.

Human Trafficking

Recruitment, transport, or harboring of persons by force, fraud, or coercion for sex, labor, or drug trafficking; nurses are key to identification and referral.

Tension-Building Phase

First phase of the violent cycle; abuser becomes irritable, minor incidents occur, victim feels anxious and tries to placate.

Violent Episode

Second phase of the violent cycle; actual physical or severe emotional abuse occurs.

Honeymoon (Remorse/Contrition) Phase

Third phase of the violent cycle; abuser apologizes, is affectionate, promises change—often traps victim in relationship.

General Characteristics of Abusers

History of abuse, substance use, low self-esteem, emotional immaturity, need for control, social isolation.

General Characteristics of Victims

Low self-esteem, dependency, fear or shame, possible financial or personal reliance on abuser, learned helplessness.

Mandatory Reporting

Legal duty for nurses to report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, abuse of disabled persons, and certain sexual assaults per state laws.

Assessment Red Flags

Inconsistent history, unusual injuries, somatic complaints, sleep disorders, extreme behaviors, substance abuse, fear of going home.

Child Physical Abuse Indicators

Unexplained burns, bruises, fractures, head injuries, poisoning, or signs of confinement.

Child Sexual Abuse Indicators

Bloody underwear, genital discharge, UTIs, difficulty walking/sitting, age-inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviors.

Child Emotional Abuse

Verbal assaults, threats, belittling, blaming, or exposing child to domestic violence; often manifests as behavioral extremes.

Child Neglect

Failure to provide basic needs—food, shelter, clothing, education, supervision—leading to failure to thrive or unsafe living conditions.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Caretaker fabricates or induces illness in a child for attention or sympathy; form of child abuse.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Severe brain injury from violent shaking of an infant; presents with retinal hemorrhages, seizures, or apnea.

Intimidation (IPV tactic)

Looks, actions, or gestures used to instill fear and silence the victim.

Threats of Harm

Abuser threatens to hurt victim, children, pets, self, or property to maintain control.

Isolation (IPV tactic)

Limiting victim’s contacts and activities to increase dependency and control.

Economic Abuse

Withholding money, preventing employment, or controlling all finances to maintain power over victim.

Use of Children (IPV)

Manipulating custody or visitation to control or intimidate the victim.

Barriers to Leaving

Fear of harm, loss of custody or assets, cultural norms, language barriers, immigration status, lack of resources or institutional support.

Negative Health Outcomes of Abuse

Increased risk for cardiovascular disease, COPD, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, substance use, mental illness, and premature death.

Social Challenges of Toxic Stress

Risky behaviors, financial difficulties, violent relationships, and trouble maintaining healthy relationships.

Resilience – 7 Cs

Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, Contribution, Coping, and Control; skills that mitigate adverse effects of trauma.

Workplace Violence Risk Factors

History of violence or substance use in clientele, working alone, poor design, understaffing, inadequate security, long waits/overcrowding.

De-escalation Techniques

Calm tone, non-threatening posture, active listening, setting limits, offering choices, and seeking assistance early; taught by CPI.

Child Protective Services (CPS)

Agency that investigates and intervenes in suspected child abuse or neglect cases.

Adult Protective Services (APS)

Agency responsible for investigating and intervening in elder or dependent-adult abuse cases.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)

Registered nurse specially trained to provide forensic examination, evidence collection, and support for sexual assault victims.

Safety Questions

Screening queries such as “Do you feel safe at home?” “Are your children safe?” used to identify potential abuse.

Restraining Order

Legal order protecting a victim by limiting an abuser’s contact; may accompany referral to shelters and resources.

Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)

Organization providing training on preventing, de-escalating, and safely responding to aggressive behaviors in healthcare settings.

Learned Helplessness

Psychological state where repeated abuse leads victim to believe escape is impossible, reducing help-seeking behaviors.