Our Commitment to Ending Gender-Based Violence

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Supporting Survivors Through Agency Nursing: Our Commitment to Ending Gender-Based Violence 

Agency nurses move between facilities, shifts, and patient populations. We adapt quickly. We build rapport fast. We provide care in diverse settings, from bustling emergency departments to quiet home care visits. 

This mobility gives Ambition24hours nurses unique opportunities to support survivors of gender-based violence. We encounter patients in different contexts. We bring fresh perspectives to facilities. We connect people with resources across various communities. 

This 16 Days of Activism, Ambition24hours Nursing Agency recognises the vital role our nurses play in supporting survivors. As Women for Change mobilises on 21 November, we stand with survivors whilst continuing to provide the essential nursing care our communities need. 

The Agency Nurse Advantage 

Building Trust Quickly 

Agency nurses excel at establishing rapport. You walk into new environments regularly. You read situations fast. You adjust your approach based on what patients need in that moment. 

Survivors of gender-based violence often struggle to disclose abuse to providers they see regularly. Sometimes a new face makes disclosure easier. You're not part of their usual network. You offer a fresh start, a clean slate, a chance to tell someone who hasn't formed opinions yet. 

Use this advantage thoughtfully. Create safe spaces for conversation. Ask questions with genuine concern. Listen without judgement. 

Seeing Patterns Others Miss 

Working across multiple facilities means you recognise patterns. You notice when different emergency departments handle GBV cases differently. You see which clinics have strong protocols and which need improvement. You identify gaps in resources. 

Share these observations. Advocate for better systems. Your perspective across facilities makes you valuable in improving how healthcare responds to gender-based violence. 

Connecting Resources Across Communities 

You work in different areas. You learn about resources in various communities. You can tell a patient in one location about services you discovered in another. This knowledge makes you an exceptional resource connector. 

Keep a running list of support services across the areas where you work. Update it regularly. Share it with colleagues. Make yourself the go-to person for GBV resources in your agency network. 

Commitment to Ending Gender-Based Violence

Each interaction offers an opportunity to provide support, connect someone to resources, or simply listen without judgement. 

Recognising and Responding to GBV

Common Presentations 

Survivors present in multiple ways across the settings where agency nurses work: 

In emergency departments: 

  • Acute injuries with inconsistent explanations 

  • Repeated visits for different injuries 

  • Delays in seeking treatment 

  • Partner who refuses to leave the room 

In clinics and primary care: 

  • Chronic pain without clear medical cause 

  • Depression or anxiety 

  • Frequent appointments for minor complaints 

  • Medication non-compliance (partner controlling medication) 

In home care settings: 

  • Isolation from family and friends 

  • Partner monitoring conversations closely 

  • Reluctance to discuss home situation 

  • Signs of financial control or deprivation 

In occupational health: 

  • Increased absenteeism 

  • Decreased work performance 

  • Visible injuries explained as accidents 

  • Frequent personal phone calls that cause distress 

Asking the Right Questions 

Don't wait for perfect conditions to ask about safety. Ask routinely. Ask privately. Ask directly. 

Effective screening questions: 

  • "Do you feel safe at home?" 

  • "Has anyone hurt you or threatened to hurt you?" 

  • "Are you in a relationship where you feel controlled or afraid?" 

  • "Has a partner ever prevented you from seeking medical care?" 

For patients with injuries: "These injuries concern me. Did someone hurt you?" 

For patients with chronic symptoms: "Sometimes when people experience ongoing pain or stress, there are things happening at home that contribute. Is anything like that affecting you?" 

Supporting Survivors in Agency Work 

Immediate Actions 

When a patient discloses abuse: 

  1. Believe them. Say "I believe you" and "This isn't your fault." 

  2. Ensure privacy. Move to a private space if you're not already there. Send partners or family members away with a medical excuse if needed. 

  3. Assess immediate danger. Ask if they're safe to go home. If not, activate facility protocols. 

  4. Document thoroughly. Record injuries with measurements and photographs (with consent). Use the patient's own words in quotation marks. Note your observations. 

  5. Provide resources. Give them the GBV Command Centre number (0800 150 150). Explain that help is available 24/7, it's confidential, and it's free. 

  6. Create a safety plan. If they're not ready to leave, discuss safer strategies. Where can they go in an emergency? Who can they call? Where can they hide important documents? 

  7. Respect their choices. Don't pressure them to leave or report. Provide information and support their autonomy. 

Documentation Standards 

Strong documentation serves multiple purposes. It creates evidence if the survivor later pursues legal action. It alerts other providers to ongoing concerns. It validates the survivor's experience. 

Document: 

  • Date and time 

  • Location and type of injuries with measurements 

  • Colours, patterns, stages of healing 

  • Patient's description of how injuries occurred (direct quotes) 

  • Your observations about behaviour, affect, interactions 

  • Questions asked and answers given 

  • Resources provided 

  • Safety concerns identified 

  • Referrals made 

Store documentation according to facility protocol. Ensure it's accessible to appropriate providers but protected from unauthorised access. 

Working Across Different Facilities 

Each facility has its own protocols for responding to GBV. Before your first shift in a new location, ask about: 

  • Mandatory reporting requirements 

  • Documentation procedures 

  • Social work availability 

  • Emergency shelter contacts 

  • Safety protocols for high-risk situations 

  • Staff training on GBV response 

If you encounter gaps or problems, report them to your agency supervisor and the facility manager. Your observations can improve systems. 

Campaigns and Resources

Women for Change: 21 November and Beyond 

Women for Change mobilises on 21 November to demand systemic change and accountability. The organisation provides survivors with practical resources, legal support, and survivor networks. 

Ambition24hours Nursing Agency supports this movement. We also recognise that healthcare cannot stop. Our nurses continue providing essential care whilst standing with survivors. These commitments strengthen rather than contradict each other. 

Women for Change resources with patients who need them. Use #WomenForChange and #UnburyTheTruth to amplify survivor voices on social media. 

16 Days of Activism: 25 November - 10 December 

This United Nations campaign runs annually from International Day of No Violence against Women to International Human Rights Day. Facilities across South Africa participate through awareness events, training, and community outreach. 

As an agency nurse, you might encounter 16 Days activities in multiple facilities. Participate where you can. Share learnings across your network. Use this period to refresh your knowledge and update your resource lists. 

UNiTED Women: Ending Digital Violence 

This year's campaign focuses on digital violence against women and girls. Online harassment, cyberstalking, revenge porn, and digital control increasingly feature in GBV cases. 

Agency nurses need to ask about digital safety: 

  • "Does your partner track your phone or demand your passwords?" 

  • "Has anyone threatened to share private photos or information about you?" 

  • "Do you have a device you can use safely to contact support services?" 

Advise patients to use library computers or trusted friends' phones when accessing resources if their devices aren't safe. Share the UNiTE campaign using #NoExcuse and #ACTtoEndViolence. 

Self-Care for Agency Nurses 

Working with GBV survivors affects nurses. Agency work adds unique stressors - you often lack the collegial support available to permanent staff. You might witness traumatic situations and then move to a completely different environment without time to process. 

Recognise Vicarious Trauma 

Symptoms include: 

  • Intrusive thoughts about patients' experiences 

  • Increased anxiety or hypervigilance 

  • Emotional numbing or avoidance 

  • Changes in worldview or relationships 

  • Physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue 

Practice Self-Care 

  • Debrief with trusted colleagues or supervisors 

  • Access employee assistance programmes through Ambition24hours 

  • Maintain boundaries between work and personal life 

  • Engage in activities that restore you 

  • Seek professional support if symptoms persist 

Build Your Support Network 

Connect with other agency nurses who understand the unique challenges. Share experiences and coping strategies. Support each other through difficult shifts. 

Ambition24hours is committed to supporting nurses who do this vital work. Reach out to your supervisor if you need resources or support. 

Making a Difference 

Agency nurses touch many lives across diverse settings. You might provide care during someone's worst moment. You might be the person who finally asks the right question. You might offer the resource that changes everything. 

Don't underestimate the impact of brief interactions. Survivors remember nurses who showed them respect, who believed them, who provided information without pressure. Your care matters even if you never know the outcome. 

Practical Resources 

Keep these resources accessible across all your work settings: 

Create a resource card you can carry and give to patients. Include local contacts for the areas where you work most frequently. 

Our Commitment 

Ambition24hours Nursing Agency stands with survivors of gender-based violence. We support the Women for Change movement mobilising on 21 November. We participate in the 16 Days of Activism. We advocate for better systems and resources. Most importantly, we support our nurses who encounter survivors every shift, in every setting, across every community we serve. 

This 16 Days of Activism and throughout the year, we commit to providing the training, resources, and support that enables our nurses to make a difference in survivors' lives. 

Together, we can end gender-based violence. One patient interaction, one referral, one moment of compassion at a time.