# A nurse is assessing a 28-year-old female client who presents to the emergency department with multiple bruises in various stages of healing. The client's husband accompanies her and answers most questions directed to the client. Which assessment finding would be the MOST significant indicator of intimate partner violence?

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=543458  
> language: ko  
> subject: Mental Health

## 문제

A nurse is assessing a 28-year-old female client who presents to the emergency department with multiple bruises in various stages of healing. The client's husband accompanies her and answers most questions directed to the client. Which assessment finding would be the MOST significant indicator of intimate partner violence?

## 보기

1. Bruises on the client's arms and legs in various stages of healing
2. The client's fearful demeanor when her husband moves closer to her during the interview **✔ 정답**
3. The husband's insistence on staying present during the entire assessment
4. Multiple emergency department visits over the past year for various injuries

**정답: 2**

## 해설

The client's fearful demeanor when her husband approaches is the most significant indicator as it directly shows psychological control and fear in abusive relationships. Other findings like bruises, husband's presence, or past visits are common but less specific behavioral signs of IPV.

## 심화 해설

Clinical Judgment
This question tests the 'Recognize Cues' and 'Analyze Cues' stages of the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM). Among multiple cues, you must identify the most direct and immediate evidence of abuse. Bruises in various stages of healing raise suspicion, but a 'cause' can be explained. The husband accompanying the interview can be a sign of controlling behavior. A history of past ER visits shows a pattern. However, the victim's fearful demeanor when the abuser approaches is vivid evidence of ongoing psychological trauma and control, a decisive behavioral signal that connects all other cues.

Memory Tip
Remember that behavior speaks louder than words. In IPV assessment, **F**earful demeanor, **A**voidance, and **S**tartle response are key behavioral cues you can remember with the mnemonic **F.A.S.**

KR vs US
In Korea, family-accompanied interviews may be common, so cultural context must be considered, but on the NGN/US exam, patient safety and autonomy are the top priority. In suspicious situations, physically separating the guardian (especially a potential abuser) and securing a one-on-one private interview with the patient is standard nursing practice.

## 임상 시나리오

Clinical Practice Guide
When IPV is suspected: 1) Create a reason to briefly take the patient aside, such as "Just a moment on the way to the restroom," and 2) in a safe, private space, ask direct but non-judgmental questions like "Do you feel safe at home?" or "Has your partner ever acted in a way that frightened you?" 3) Document findings objectively ("Patient flinched and avoided eye contact when her husband approached"), and 4) provide information on community resources (shelters, legal aid).

Caution
In SATA (Select All That Apply) questions, "bruises in various stages of healing" or "husband accompanying the interview" can also be *indicators* of IPV and may be included among the options. However, if the question asks for the "MOST significant indicator," the victim's direct fear response is the correct answer. Do not overlook behavioral and emotional cues.

## 핵심 개념

- **Intimate Partner Violence** — A pattern of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological violence or coercive control exerted by one partner over another in an intimate relationship.
- **Coercive Control** — It refers to a series of actions where the perpetrator systematically deprives the victim of free will, autonomy, and self-esteem, signifying ongoing psychological control beyond overt violence.
- **Trauma-Informed Care** — A treatment and care framework that understands the impact of traumatic experiences on an individual's life and health, prevents re-traumatization, and approaches in a way that empowers and promotes recovery.
- **Mandatory Reporting** — A legal obligation for certain professionals (such as healthcare workers) to report to the relevant authorities when they suspect specific types of abuse, such as child abuse or elder abuse. (Note: In most U.S. states, there is no mandatory reporting requirement for adult IPV victims, though exceptions may apply in certain situations, such as threats.)
- **Safety Planning** — A personalized, practical plan that victims prepare in advance to secure their own safety and that of their children (if any) in violent situations, including emergency contacts, storage locations for important items, evacuation routes, etc.

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