Interviewing an Abuser or Abuse Victim
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Conduct the interview in private. | Conduct the interview with a group of interviewers. |
| Be direct, honest, and professional. | Try to prove abuse by accusations and demands. |
| Be understanding. | Display horror, anger, shock, or disapproval of the abuser or the situation. |
| Be attentive. | Place blame or make judgments about the abuser or the victim. |
| Inform the patient before making the referral to child or adult protective services and explain the process. | Allow the victim to feel “at fault” or “in trouble.” |
| Assess for risk of danger and help reduce that risk before discharge. | Probe or press for answers the victim is not willing to give. |
| For Children | |
| Tell the child that the interview is confidential. Use age-specific language. Ask the child to clarify his or her meaning or words you do not understand. Tell the child whether any future action will be required. | Force the child to remove clothing. |
Source: Reproduced with permission: Smith-Dijulio, K., & Holzapfel, S. K. (1994). Families in crisis: Family violence. In E. M. Varcarolis (Ed.), Foundations of psychiatric mental health nursing. Philadelphia: WB Saunders.