Self-care when managing abuse

How nurses feel

There is little doubt that one of the most difficult things for the nurse to be able to do it to manage their emotional response to abuse (Taylor et al., 2017). Among the emotions nurses may experience when supporting any individual, who is experiencing, or has experienced, abuse are:

• Inadequacy
• Disempowerment
• Disappointment
• Discouragement
• Disenfranchisement
• Remaining professional when dealing with alleged abusers

(Tingberg et al., 2008; Lines et al., 2016; Lines et al., 2021)

Why self-care is important

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018, p.19) in the Code requires nurses to “maintain the level of health you need to carry out your professional role”. This includes maintaining ones emotional and psychological wellbeing insofar as is possible. Linton and Koonmen (2020) regard self-care for nurses to be an ethical obligation as there is evidence to suggest nurses give the best care when they themselves are in the best of