Nursing and Domestic Violence with Drs. Esmeralda Clark and Kathleen Thimsen (Pt. 2)
Content note: This episode discusses domestic violence. If you need support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
In Part 2 of our conversation on domestic violence, host Dr. Jennifer Vanderlaan talks with Dr. Esmeralda Clark of the UNLV School of Nursing about what it’s like to be the first person a patient tells. Drawing on her experience as a trauma ICU nurse and a nurse practitioner, Dr. Clark shares how she learned to recognize injuries that didn’t match the story, ask screening questions in a trauma-informed way, and support patients with safety planning. Forensic nurse Dr. Kathleen Thimsen then returns to discuss the gaps survivors face in Nevada, from screening questions that are rushed or overlooked to a statewide shortage of forensic nurses. Together, they offer new nurses a clear message: trust your instincts, speak up, and remember that nursing is a team sport.
In Part 2 of our conversation on domestic violence, host Dr. Jennifer Vanderlaan talks with Dr. Esmeralda Clark of the UNLV School of Nursing about what it’s like to be the first person a patient tells. Drawing on her experience as a trauma ICU nurse and a nurse practitioner, Dr. Clark shares how she learned to recognize injuries that didn’t match the story, ask screening questions in a trauma-informed way, and support patients with safety planning. Forensic nurse Dr. Kathleen Thimsen then returns to discuss the gaps survivors face in Nevada, from screening questions that are rushed or overlooked to a statewide shortage of forensic nurses. Together, they offer new nurses a clear message: trust your instincts, speak up, and remember that nursing is a team sport.
