title: Leading the Way: Implementing a Domestic Violence Assessment Pilot Project by Public Health Nurses.
abstract: The current healthcare system requires nurses to utilize innovations and effective leadership to achieve positive health outcomes for their patients. Public health nurses (PHNs) are in a unique position to utilize leadership and advocacy to increase the overall health and well-being of their clients. Domestic violence (DV) is a serious and widespread public health issue and PHNs have a crucial role in providing a preventative and coordinated approach to identifying and responding to DV. This article describes the process through which a group of front line PHNs took an active role in leading the development and implementation of a pilot project to address DV within their practice area. Through the development of a working group, a foundation for guidance was established to reinforce the role of the PHNs in advocating for the need to shift the focus of DV interventions from a reactive to a proactive approach. The DV assessment pilot project is an example for practice and a motivator for nurses to be leaders for change within their practice areas.
authors.affiliation: Instructor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Snell
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D064689:Nurses, Public Health / Q000193:education* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010865:Pilot Projects