New Exhibit at Blaisdell Medical Library Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives

Did you know nurses played a leading role in raising awareness about domestic violence? See how they advocated, educated and worked together to get domestic violence recognized as a health issue through the National Library of Medicine’s traveling exhibition, Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives, now on display at the Blaisdell Medical Library.

Nurses witnessed firsthand the impact of domestic violence in women’s lives and brought the medical community’s attention to this previously neglected issue. Beginning in the late 1970s, nurses made a push to identify victims of domestic abuse and properly treat victims — implementing some of the first hospital protocols for treating battered women. But they did not stop there; nurses also organized nationally to push for reforms to prevent domestic abuse.

Come examine some of the resources used by nurses and other health professionals that helped them effectively intervene, treat and support battered patients. Items featured in this traveling exhibition include correspondence, photographs and early guidelines for care.

The exhibit is on display now through May 19 at UC Davis’ Blaisdell Medical Library in Sacramento.

The National Library of Medicine produced this exhibition with support from the Office of Research on Women’s Health.