[fergus51]

Can anyone tell me about your policy on screening women for domestic abuse while pregnant or tell me about community based programs in your are? I would really appreciate it. You can email me if you don't want to post (fergus51@hotmail.com)

[canoehead]

Everyone is asked when they are triaged in the er if anyone in their lives abuses or hurts them. Pregnant women are also screened in their MD office visit.

[mother/babyRN]

We wait until whoever is with the patient steps out before we ask her those questions. Noticing behaviors ( if the guy speaks for her or seems controlling, if she refuses to consent to a vaginal exam while in labor, etc.). We are able to rely on nursing judgement vs awaiting a physician order to consult social services, which has been a big help in picking up situations. Unfortunately, I can't say that social services carries the ball a lot of the times, though they do try....We are also in touch with nurses from the OB offices, as well as the NPs and midwives, and we follow the patients through initial visit to labor and delivery, and beyond...