ABSTRACT
The International Association of Forensic Nurses has issued guidance in response to victim- or self-administered evidence kits after sexual assault.
Subject(s)
Crime Victims , Forensic Nursing , Sex Offenses , Specimen Handling , Humans , Needs Assessment , Nurse's Role , Physical ExaminationABSTRACT
The International Association of Forensic Nurses has developed a Position Statement regarding child maltreatment. The Position Statement identifies the problem statement, association position, and rationale for interventions.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/diagnosis , Nurse's Role , Child , Child Abuse/prevention & control , Forensic Nursing , Humans , Nursing Assessment , Risk Factors , Societies, NursingABSTRACT
The current study analyzes adult female sexual assault data, collected by sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in New Hampshire, United States, between 1997 and 2007. The purposes of this study were to (1) explore the relationship between patient and assailant, (2) examine patients' physical findings according to assailant type, (3) describe characteristics of both the patients and the assaults, and (4) make care recommendations. Secondary analysis was conducted on data gathered by SANEs from responses to a standardized questionnaire based on the medical/forensic examination of each patient over an 11-year period. Of the 741 women in this study, 53% were sexually assaulted by a nonstranger, 18% were assaulted by an intimate partner, and 11% were assaulted by a stranger. The relationship between patient and assailant is an important variable that requires SANEs to take a closer look at assessing for lethality, and assisting with safety planning, intervention, and treatment for victims.
Subject(s)
Interpersonal Relations , Rape/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Colposcopy/statistics & numerical data , Female , Forensic Nursing , Genitalia, Female/injuries , Gynecological Examination/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , New Hampshire , Rural Population , Sexual Partners , Urban Population , WeaponsABSTRACT
The purpose of this article is to provide child sexual abuse data gathered by sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in New Hampshire at the time of the medical/forensic examination. This study provides demographic, victim and assault characteristics from 696 child sexual abuse patients between 1997 and 2007. The study is a collaborative project between the SANE Advisory Board, a team of university researchers, and the Research Committee of the New Hampshire (NH) Governor's Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual , Databases, Factual , Forensic Nursing , Adolescent , Age Distribution , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/diagnosis , Child Abuse, Sexual/statistics & numerical data , Child, Preschool , Colposcopes/statistics & numerical data , Female , Forensic Nursing/organization & administration , Friends , Humans , Incest/statistics & numerical data , Infant , Male , Multivariate Analysis , New Hampshire/epidemiology , Physical Examination/methods , Physical Examination/nursing , Physical Examination/statistics & numerical data , Population Surveillance , Sex Distribution , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Since 1996, the American Nurses Association has recognized forensic nursing as a formal specialty. Despite this recognition, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and Emergency Department nurses struggle with incorporating evidence collection into the care they give the unconscious or comatose patient they suspect has been sexually assaulted. Through case example, this article provides an abbreviated review of the circumstances under which these patients present for care, current challenges, and barriers in upholding the standard of forensic nursing care, as well as proposed interventions for the practicing forensic nurse.
