Nurses working with diverse populations of individuals seeking care within any clinical context need the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise and respond to different types of family violence, including child maltreatment, intimate partner violence and the abuse of older adults. When nurses only have brief or single episodic encounters with individuals, they can provide first-line support by recognising the indicators of family violence, engaging in a discussion to explore experiences of violence and, if a disclosure occurs, prioritising safety and referrals to other supports. The RELIEVES pathway guides nurses to provide first-line support underpinned by the principles of trauma- and violence-informed care to people experiencing abuse or violence. Organisational strategies to prevent secondary traumatic stress in nurses working with people experiencing family violence are also outlined.