PORT ANGELES — Four registered nurses from Olympic Medical Center’s emergency department successfully have trained to become sexual assault nurse examiners.
The training allows registered nurses to specifically provide high-quality, compassionate care to victims of sexual assault.
OMC declined to provide the names of the nurses trained last fall “due to the nature of what they do in the emergency services department, and safety of our staff is a priority,” said Bobby Beeman, hospital spokeswoman.
Equally as important to victims of sexual assault and the legal community that handles these cases, sexual assault exams performed by these trained caregivers are highly regarded for standards of evidence collection, the validity of the forensic exam and providing expert testimony if a case goes to trial.
“It is incredibly important to provide compassionate care to our patients, even more so when they are a victim of sexual assault,” said Lorraine Wall, RN, chief nursing officer at OMC.
“The efforts of Sue Rainey, emergency services director, and the nurses who devoted time to be trained as a sexual assault nurse examiner resulted in an incredibly valuable resource for victims of sexual assault and our legal and enforcement community.”
Examiner’s duties
When a patient comes to the emergency department indicating they are a victim of sexual assault, a sexual assault nurse examiner performs a medical forensic exam with the patient’s permission, collects physical evidence, documents findings and provides necessary medical treatment under the direction of an emergency department physician.
“The nurse examiner stays with the patient throughout the entire encounter from arrival to the emergency department and throughout the physical exam,” Rainey said.
“The nurse also offers referrals to local agencies that may be of assistance to a patient following an alleged sexual assault,” she continued.
For questions about sexual assault nurse examiners, phone 360-417-7380 or 360-417-7191.