The nurse is caring for a patient who is a victim of interpersonal violence (IPV). What is the nurse's first priority?
1. Assist the patient to devise a safety or escape plan.
2. Encourage the patient to take charge of the situation.
3. Make it clear to the patient that the partner needs to see a therapist.
4. Offer to contact outpatient services if the patient promises not to return home after discharge.
Answer: 1
Explanation: A victim of intimate partner violence should have a safety plan. This is the highest priority because the patient's physical and/or mental health is in danger. The nurse should not assume that the patient will be able to control the partner, and suggesting that the patient tell the abusive partner to see a therapist could escalate the abuse. Encouraging a patient to take charge is a very general suggestion. The patient needs specific tools to develop a safety plan. It may not be safe or feasible for the patient to leave home right away, and resources should not be withheld if a patient is unable to promise to leave home.
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