This article describes an emergency-room (ER) clinical experience of caring for a 27 year-old woman who suffered from domestic violence. During the period of nursing care, we offered a safe and private environment for interviews, medical care, and wound-examination. We informed the Domestic Violence Prevention Center of the situation and collected data through observation, careful listening, and private interviews. Through an integrated evaluation of physiological, psychological, and societal factors, it was determined that the nursing challenges of the case consisted of post-trauma response,feelings of hopelessness, and decisional conflict. After nursing care, the patient’s emotional state became much calmer. Further methods of support for the patient included providing education for preventing and dealing with domestic violence, providing information about other organizations committed to helping victims of domestic violence, encouraging the patient to accept herself, and helping the patient to regain hope. We maintained contact with her via telephone interviews six times during the two months following her discharge and assisted her in confronting problems with a positive attitude. In the end, she decided not to divorce her husband, but to try to deal bravely with the problems in her marriage. By sharing our experience, it is our hope that this article can be helpful to emergency medical personnel treating victims of domestic violence. Immediate and integrated medical services can help victims of
domestic violence to obtain not only physical care, but also proper psychological care. This care includes providing an environment of tranquility and security, and encouraging the victims of domestic violence
to face their problem realistically and to actively seek out the help they need.