Confronting Violence

"Violence in America, Violence in Our Homes," Catalyst, 1992

In this short article, forensic nurse Daniel Sheridan presented succinct data on the extent and impact of domestic violence in America: 25 to 30 percent of women seen in emergency rooms were victims of abuse, and a woman was battered once every 15 seconds. He pointed out that "family violence survivors can be of any race, religion, economic status, educational background, and age," and that legal protections were not "bullet or knife proof." Sheridan commented on the pioneering role of nurses in responding to domestic violence, stating that "for over ten years, nurses have been the leaders in addressing the health care needs of survivors of family violence throughout the life cycle."

Courtesy National Library of Medicine