Study explores student nurse preparation

Professor Gorman said they believed this was the first study of its kind in Australia.

'Intimate Partner Violence is similar to domestic violence but specifically looks at partners only, not children for example,' he said.

'It includes acts of physical aggression, psychological abuse, forced intercourse and other forms of sexual coercion, and various controlling behaviours such as isolating a person from family and friends or restricting access to information and assistance.'

The report found that nursing students may not understand the significance of Intimate Partner Violence, and may not be adequately prepared for their future role, especially in the area of meeting their patients’ emotional needs and in understanding different approaches to the problem. In particular they did not see that they had a role in prevention.

'The study is important because it identifies that student nurses are ill prepared to work with clients who may be victims of IPV. This is a very sensitive area and nurses can be the first professional to identify that someone is in need of support and counselling.'

Professor Gorman said as a result of the study the University can look at including appropriate content into the curriculum.

The report was presented to the Head of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Cath Rogers-Clark, and Deputy Dean – Research in the Faculty of Sciences, Professor Grant Daggard, at a recent a morning tea.

Don Gorman, Lisa Beccaria, Rhonda Dawson, Julie Harris and Delwar Hossain, along with Gavin Beccaria from the Psychology department undertook the research project.

For more information please contact Lisa Beccaria on 46 31 2753 or Rhonda Dawson on 4631 1503