Nursing Forensic - Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner - Essay Example

Nursing Forensics - Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Introduction The time any news on rape ever occurred may hardly be known by anybody because rape has been with us for as long as the world has existed. However, the first day of Sexual Assault Nurse Examination took place can be quoted because the practice started not very long ago. Plichta, Clements, and Houseman (2007) note that the need for getting a concerted approach towards the issues of rape and rape victims started in the 1970s. it was however in 1991 that the Journal of Emergency Nursing made publications of the first list of Sexual Assault Nurse Examination programs. The role of SANE has over the years moved ordinary examination of sexual assault victims to include the role of completing evidentiary examinations on other abuse cases where forensic evidence collection may be deemed necessary. This advanced role has been deemed necessary because a sexual assault nurse examiner is supposed to be a registered nurse who has advanced training in forensic sexual assault examination. Logan (2007) outlines three major purposes of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examination. He notes that that sexual assault examinations are carried out to assess a sexual assault case. Assessment here may mean evaluating and carrying out test. Next is to document results of the assessment. Finally, sexual assault nurse examination is about collection of forensic evidence towards charges and accusations of sexual assault. Sexual assault nurse examination is characterized by special features that makes it different from regular nursing practice. First, a person requires special education even after the regular registered nursing program. Secondly, the program is not the usual patient centered but a victim centered. Finally, a sexual assault nurse examiner undertakes regular services in professional nursing as regular nurses. This is to conclude that all sexual assault nurse examiners are regular nurses but it is not all regular nurses who are sexual assault nurse examiners. Male Perspective Sexual assault nurse examination is not all about females. There is no denying the fact that issues of sexual assault have generally being related to males as culprits and females as victims in most circles of media and academic learning. However, this school of thought is highly erroneous because sexual assault nurse examination makes room for male practitioners. As a matter of fact, the qualification that gets a person to become a sexual assault nurse examiner is purely based on academic merits, qualification and self-desire. There is no mediocrity on human relational grounds such that females will specially be selected to undertake the course in order to victimize and expose male offenders. Having said this, there is the need to appreciate the professionalism with which the sexual assault examiner nurse works and the urgency that is attached to the authenticity of forensic evidence gathered by sexual assault nurse examiners. For this reason, it would be extremely difficult for a nurse to try to be bias on the grounds of what his sex is if cases are brought against males and the nurse happens to also be a male. The same line of argument applies to victims or patients. It has mostly being that females are the worse victims of sexual assault cases but the truth is that males also suffer sexual assault cases. Nurses are therefore admonished to continue to exhibit professionalism in the delivery of their work. If this happen, the issue of whether it was a male who suffered as a victim or not will not be necessary because there will be a common standard that treats patients of all sexes. Meshing with Law Enforcement The sexual assault nurse examiner is more of a nursing professional on a legal duty than just a medical expert needed to examine a patient of health problems. This is said because the duty of the sexual assault nurse examiner has been meshed with law enforcement whereby the sexual assault nurse examiner is expected to give legal testimony in court. This means that the sexual assault nurse examiner becomes a witness in the legal field. This duty became necessary when repeatedly the presence of accredited witnesses on whether or not a sexual assault has taken place became scarce in court (Logan and Capillo, 2006). Medical evidence collection procedure is very necessary in the duty of the sexual assault nurse examiner. This is because it is only under such circumstance that facts presented by the sexual assault examiner nurse can be accepted as credible evidence in court. A comprehensive evidence collection will be an integrated evidence collection that considers other important components such as routine collection of extra tube of blood that is used to undertake analysis on drug and alcohol. This way, such evidence can be used to ascertain a defendant’s claim that an accuser was too drunk or to much under the influence of drug to remember whether or not he or she consented to the sex demands. The work of the sexual assault nurse examiner is very necessary for prosecution decisions. Prosecutions in court constitute final decision and are therefore very vital. In the absence of well researched conclusions based on credible evidence, prosecutions may be ill-delivered. For this reason, the sexual assault nurse examiner contributes to prosecution only if the evidence he or she presents to court are identified as credible and becomes the most outstanding basis on which the truth behind claims of rape or other forms of sexual assault offences can be made. Forensic evidence is more detailed than ordinary data or evidence collection process. Due to it, it normally takes more time – usually up to 72 hours or more as some cases of forensic evidence may take up to 96 hours to complete. The need for detailed, well researched forensic evidence is mostly necessary because the forensic evidence does not only aid in prosecution or witness bearing but also helps in speeding a victim’s recovery rate and helps to prevent complicated injury or illness (Lomas, 2008). The latter groups of purposes are achieved because the forensic evidence is also used in undertaking medical interventions. To conclude on this session, it is very important to state that forensic evidence collection to aid patient care can only take place under collaboration between the sexual assault nurse examiner and victim. Nursing Implications The role of any nurse who is a sexual assault nurse examiner is very crucial in both medical and legal circles. This assertion should have several implications to nurses in the discharge of their duties. In the first place, SANE program evaluation is very important in helping the sexual assault nurse examiner to understanding the implications of their work. Evaluation can be done by simply comparing information from program performance to participation outcome. To success with the sexual assault nurse examiners’ program also, training of nurses should be very crucial. As often as possible, nurses should appreciate the implication of training to the effective undertaking of their duties to them. Once this is understood, nurses will freely undertake refresher and top-up courses to upgrade their knowledge on the delivery of their duties. The world is fast changing and so are everyday trends that concern human life and existence. For this reason, nurses can make the inclusion of modern and sophisticated technology in enhancing their professional competence so that much can be gained out of their duties. With a well trained and up-to-date sexual assault nurse examiner working, the entire purpose of the sexual assault nurse examiner can be achieved. Above all, nurses should appreciate their roles as psychologists, who have the psychological survival of patients in their hands. Undertaking all forms of training and effective delivery of their work suggest in this section can therefore not be underrated in any way. Conclusion The paper will be concluded on the note that sexual assault examination should take place with a sense of humanistic approach whereby nurses have the desire for a very strong patient care that is devoid of al forms of lackadaisical attitude, partiality or biases that may be touted as unprofessionalism. Nurses should see themselves more as medical personnel who have been tasked to safe lives and reduce the plight and pain of patients rather than involve themselves in direct legal litigations. With such a mentality, they would always focus on giving care to patients no matter the outcome of legal issues that result from their sexual assault examinations. REFERENCE LIST Logan, T. K. (2007). Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program characteristics, barriers, and lessons learned. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 3(1), 24-34. Logan, T. K., Cole, J., & Capillo, A. (2006). Program and sexual assault survivor characteristics for one SANE program. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2(2), 66-74. Lomas, C. (2008). Nurse service key to sexual assault care. Nursing Times, 104(37), 7 Plichta, S. B., Clements, P. T., & Houseman, C. (2007). Why SANE’s matter: Models of care for sexual violence victims in the emergency department. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 3(1), 115-23. Read More