TY - JOUR PY - 2001// TI - Abuse obscured: an ethnographic account of emergency nursing in relation to violence against women JO - Canadian journal of nursing research A1 - Varcoe, C. SP - 95 EP - 115 VL - 32 IS - 4 N2 - Violence against women is a significant health issue in Canada and around the globe, yet the health-care response has been inadequate. While various reasons for this inadequacy have been suggested, little systematic research has been undertaken. This ethnographic study of 2 hospital emergency units was conducted to describe nursing practice in relation to violence against women. Participant observation and interviews with 25 healthcare providers and 5 patients in the 2 units were complemented by interviews with 5 nurses from other emergency units. The findings illustrate that abuse is obscured and practice shaped by stereotypical thinking and a focus on physical problems and rapid patient processing. Perceptions of patient deservedness influenced care that ranged from "doing nothing" to actively offering the patient choices. This description provides a basis for designing meaningful education for nurses and systemic changes that will foster more effective practice.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0844-5621 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -