Question

A client who is the victim of domestic violence states to the nurse, "If only I could change to be how my partner wants me to be. I know things would be different." Which would be the best response by the nurse?

A. "Batterers lose self-control because of their own internal reasons. The violence shown to you is not because of what you did or did not do."
B. "No one deserves to be beaten. Are you doing anything to provoke your partner into beating you?"
C. "The violence is temporarily caused by unusual circumstances. Don't stop hoping for a change."
D. "Perhaps, if you understood the need to abuse, you could stop the violence."

Answer 1

The best response by the nurse would be A. "Batterers lose self-control because of their own internal reasons. The violence shown to you is not because of what you did or did not do."

Step-by-step explanation:

Option A provides a supportive and accurate response by reinforcing that the responsibility for the violence lies with the perpetrator, not the victim. It emphasizes that batterers lose self-control due to their own internal reasons, and the victim's actions or behaviors are not the cause of the violence. This response helps the client understand that they are not to blame for the abusive behavior and encourages a shift away from self-blame. Options B, C, and D may inadvertently perpetuate victim-blaming or provide misguided explanations for the abuser's actions, which can be detrimental to the client's understanding of the situation.

The correct option is A.