Our Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention Program, WINGS at NCH, utlized a nurse champion model to deliver staff education and implement screening for all adult patients and subsequent referral. A similar model was used for physician offices and included on-site education for office staff to achieve the same outcomes.

 Proposed change:

Since the start of the program in 2007, although several methods were used to educate and increase awareness for the key stakeholder groups, referrals for counselling remained flat.  In 2008 a plan was created to develop a nurse champion model for peer to peer education as well as a "pharmacy detailing" model with a MD champion for physicians offices.  In addtion, several initiatives were developed, with the input of these two groups, to provide enhanced "just in time" education for our community.

Implementation, outcomes and evaluation:

In June 2008 a workshop was held for 25 nurses who were identified by their Unit Leadership as nurse champions for IPV education and awareness.  This training included the dynamics  of IPV as well as a presentation from a survivor of IPV who emphasized the importance of screening.  Training included methods of questioning using standardized questions, barriers to screening, our hospital policy, documentation and the referral process for patients and staff.  Nurse Champions were challenged to create unit based goals for education and awareness.  Champion follow up included monthly meetings with unit reports on progress.  Outcomes from this group included increased compliance with education, changes to the standardized questions and creation of a resource card for patients and visitors which can be found in all public bathrooms and put discretely in a shoe or pocket. The group has a yearly workshop to re-energize and plan activities.  Awareness activities planned for 2011 include a purple ribbon campaign on campus trees, toiletry drive for WINGS residents and a quarterly nurse champion newsletter which contains ongoing evidence cased inforamtion about IPV and the WINGS at NCH program.

Education for physicians and office staff was presented in collaboration with a NCH physician champion and the WINGS hospital liason and held in the physician offices. Outcomes included standardized screening to identify and refer patients.  Referrals to the WINGS at NCH counselling services are tracked by provider type and have demonstated growth since both programs were implemented.

Implications for nursing practice:   The Nurse Champion method of peer to peer education provides a strong foundation to achieve change.

Keywords: nurse champion, peer to peer education, Intimate Partner Violence