In this conversation, hosts Kalen and Karen welcome two Canadian experts, neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Ellis and forensic nurse leader Ashley Stewart, to spotlight the often overlooked reality of head trauma among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Drawing comparisons to sport-related concussion, the guests unpack why healthcare systems lack proper protocols, how this gap harms patient outcomes, and what forensic nurses can do to help their patients get on the road to healing. We introduce the new IAFN IPV Head Trauma Toolkit—built to standardize screening, assessment, documentation, and safety planning—so clinicians can identify injuries earlier, refer appropriately, and improve patients’ recovery trajectories.
In this conversation, hosts Kalen and Karen welcome two Canadian experts, neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Ellis and forensic nurse leader Ashley Stewart, to spotlight the often overlooked reality of head trauma among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Drawing comparisons to sport-related concussion, the guests unpack why healthcare systems lack proper protocols, how this gap harms patient outcomes, and what forensic nurses can do to help their patients get on the road to healing. We introduce the new IAFN IPV Head Trauma Toolkit—built to standardize screening, assessment, documentation, and safety planning—so clinicians can identify injuries earlier, refer appropriately, and improve patients’ recovery trajectories.
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