D to IPV? In-depth data were obtained with the use of interviewing skills such as reflection and paraphrasing. Considering the emotional and sensitive nature of the research phenomenon, participants were supported and referred for counselling as needed. Guided by data saturation, nine interviews lasting 45 to 60 minutes were conducted. Descriptive and reflective field notes were used to supplement the interview data and increase the interviewer’s awareness of her personal values and possible areas of bias or role conflict.Open AccessPage 3 journal.pone.0077579 ofOriginal ResearchData analysisDescriptive phenomenological data analysis was pursued to explore the meaning of participants’ responses.37 A general sense of the whole was obtained whilst reading through the transcribed interviews. By using free imaginative variation, the researcher followed the concrete experiences obtained from participants, reflected on, and divided, the data into meaning units according to the different ways of coping used by participants.Coping: Dealing with the experience of being exposed to survivors of intimate partner violenceParticipants’ Carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone chemical information attempts to deal with their experiences included seeking support, regulation of emotions and accommodation.Seeking supportParticipants who used support-seeking verbalised that `it feels better’ to talk to colleagues as talking provides a way of ventilating feelings:`I can come here and say to Sister X: “You know what Sister X? We have got this patient. This is what happened to this patient; this is so sad.”‘ (Participant 1, female, 32)Ethical considerationsApproval to conduct the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria (ref: 125/2010) and the hospital management. In line with ethical research principles, informed consent was obtained and participants were informed of their right to withdraw at any time without any purchase Pepstatin consequences.Emergency nurses also talked to the spiritual counsellors who provide support to patients and hospital staff on a voluntary basis:`… he is here for us … you just go there and talk to them … It’s good for us … the spiritual counsellors … and then after that I’m back to normal.’ (Participant 8, female, 46)RigorRigor of the findings was ensured through bracketing, reflexivity and eidetic reduction. The researcher, a psychiatric nurse, bracketed her prior knowledge and assumptions regarding the coping models used to assist clients who have been exposed to trauma. She analysed and reflected 1.07839E+15 on her self-awareness during the research process and recorded these as reflective notes.36 Eidetic reduction entailed the uncovering of the essential characteristics of participants’ experiences. The findings reflect the meaning of coping with the exposure to survivors of IPV quoted in participants’ words.Regulation of emotionsParticipants attempted emotion regulation as a way of coping. They sometimes cried when they were emotionally touched by a case:`I will go to the bathroom, I cry then I come back and feel a little bit relieved afterwards.’ (Participant 3, female, 27)ResultsIn essence participants’ ways of coping were either aimed at escaping or dealing with their exposure to survivors of IPV. Ways to escape the emotions related to care for a survivor of IPV included avoidance, whilst attempts to deal with the experience included seeking support, regulation of emotions and accommodation. Participants used suppression of emotions in an attempt to regulate the.D to IPV? In-depth data were obtained with the use of interviewing skills such as reflection and paraphrasing. Considering the emotional and sensitive nature of the research phenomenon, participants were supported and referred for counselling as needed. Guided by data saturation, nine interviews lasting 45 to 60 minutes were conducted. Descriptive and reflective field notes were used to supplement the interview data and increase the interviewer’s awareness of her personal values and possible areas of bias or role conflict.Open AccessPage 3 journal.pone.0077579 ofOriginal ResearchData analysisDescriptive phenomenological data analysis was pursued to explore the meaning of participants’ responses.37 A general sense of the whole was obtained whilst reading through the transcribed interviews. By using free imaginative variation, the researcher followed the concrete experiences obtained from participants, reflected on, and divided, the data into meaning units according to the different ways of coping used by participants.Coping: Dealing with the experience of being exposed to survivors of intimate partner violenceParticipants’ attempts to deal with their experiences included seeking support, regulation of emotions and accommodation.Seeking supportParticipants who used support-seeking verbalised that `it feels better’ to talk to colleagues as talking provides a way of ventilating feelings:`I can come here and say to Sister X: “You know what Sister X? We have got this patient. This is what happened to this patient; this is so sad.”‘ (Participant 1, female, 32)Ethical considerationsApproval to conduct the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria (ref: 125/2010) and the hospital management. In line with ethical research principles, informed consent was obtained and participants were informed of their right to withdraw at any time without any consequences.Emergency nurses also talked to the spiritual counsellors who provide support to patients and hospital staff on a voluntary basis:`… he is here for us … you just go there and talk to them … It’s good for us … the spiritual counsellors … and then after that I’m back to normal.’ (Participant 8, female, 46)RigorRigor of the findings was ensured through bracketing, reflexivity and eidetic reduction. The researcher, a psychiatric nurse, bracketed her prior knowledge and assumptions regarding the coping models used to assist clients who have been exposed to trauma. She analysed and reflected 1.07839E+15 on her self-awareness during the research process and recorded these as reflective notes.36 Eidetic reduction entailed the uncovering of the essential characteristics of participants’ experiences. The findings reflect the meaning of coping with the exposure to survivors of IPV quoted in participants’ words.Regulation of emotionsParticipants attempted emotion regulation as a way of coping. They sometimes cried when they were emotionally touched by a case:`I will go to the bathroom, I cry then I come back and feel a little bit relieved afterwards.’ (Participant 3, female, 27)ResultsIn essence participants’ ways of coping were either aimed at escaping or dealing with their exposure to survivors of IPV. Ways to escape the emotions related to care for a survivor of IPV included avoidance, whilst attempts to deal with the experience included seeking support, regulation of emotions and accommodation. Participants used suppression of emotions in an attempt to regulate the.