They make headlines all too often these days. Another wife or girlfriend shot in a domestic dispute, another child dead at the hands of a relative.

Every day we see and hear about that dark side of human nature, where the weak are subjugated by those who, for whatever reason, need to feel more powerful.

From physical violence and sexual assault to the less visible but insidous emotional blackmail that cuts to the core, dometic violence knows no economic or racial boundaries.

Nurses often are the first to see victims of domestic violence. The questions they ask may mean the difference between jailing an abuser and returning the victim to the cycle of abuse.

In this issue of Pulse, writer Pamela Keene reports on the ways nurses can help when they suspect abuse. Besides providing a nonjudgemental ear, they can provide that old refrain, "document, document, document,"a lifesaver for patients who come into the ER with bruised bodies and spirits, but often aren't willing to implicate their abusers. Sometimes you may find the victim is one of your co-workers. Many health care professionals have personal experience with domestic violence.

A 2002 Online Journal of Issues in Nursing article by Mary Silva, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, and Ruth Ludwick, Ph.D., RN, C, reported a survey of 40 registered nurses employed in a large emergency department. More than half reported a personal experience with domestic violence. Of that number, 35 percent reported having been hit, kicked or punched - and even then, 25 percent did not consider that treatment to be abuse.

A helpful byproduct of working with abused women is seeing the signs of abuse in their own lives, said Kabee Johnston, a nurse who chairs the Gwinnett Health System's Domestic Violence task force. "Hearing about domestic violence may trigger the thought that what their partner is doing to them is not OK,"Johnston said.

And then there's workplace violence - a disturbing trend that will be addressed in a future issue of Pulse.

It's hard for some to fathom how someone can put up with abuse; yet the reality of the situation often leaves the victim with worries about where to turn for shelter and relief. The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) is another way to receive help.

Do you have any story ideas for Pulse? Please e-mail me or call me at 404-526-2617.