Abstract

Purpose: Every 98 seconds, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. SANE nurses are specifically trained to assess for injuries, collect evidence, document findings, and provide treatment, while providing compassionate care to the patient. In 2015, a need was identified to increase the number of SANEs in the ED.

Design: The ED started utilizing simulation technology to assist in both competency assessment and completion of the clinical components of SANE training. A 5-item self-survey was completed by the nurse before and after simulation to assess confidence level with SANE-specific tasks. A checklist was utilized by the instructor to ensure all areas were addressed by the nurse or taught by the instructor during the simulation.

Setting: The ED is a University-based teaching facility that sees nearly 90,000 ED visits annually, 120 of those being sexual assaults. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center for both adults and pediatric patients and have access to a state-of-the-art simulation center.

Participants/Subjects: Participants were ED nurses who had already completed their didactic portion of SANE training. The simulation was used in two ways depending on what stage the nurse was at in their clinical training and the experiences. Simulation was used to precept nurses new to sexual assault training and as a final exam to prove competency and completion of training.

Methods: Twenty-four ED nurses attended statewide sexual assault nurse examiner training between 2015-2017. All participated in a simulated mock exam and were required to complete a self-confidence self-assessment pre and post simulation. A checklist was also used to verify that all competency items were completed or taught by the instructor.

Results/Outcomes: Thirteen of the twenty-four nurses completed their clinical training requirements and became independently functioning SANEs, which is a completion rate of 54%, whereas the state average is only 28%. The average pretest self-confidence evaluation score was 23 points out of 35 points (66%). The average posttest self-confidence evaluation score was 27 points out of 35 points, or 77%, which is an increase by 11%.

Implications: In 2015, the ED evaluated 85 patients for sexual assault and 72% of these patients were treated and evaluated by a SANE. In 2017, the ED evaluated 118 patients for sexual assault and 93% of these patients were evaluated by a SANE. By utilizing simulation, not only did the number of patients increase, but the number of exams completed by a trained professional also increased. Patients received prompt, compassionate care by a competent nurse trained to do medical-forensic examinations. In order to build up an ED SANE program, simulation technology is needed. The impact of utilizing simulation technology to increase the number of SANE nurses is beneficial for the patient, the SANE nurse, and the ED staff.

Author Details

Stefanie Clarke, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, SANE-A; Jaclyn Rodriguez, BS, BSN, RN, SANE-A

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Simulation, SANE, Sexual Assault

Conference Name

Emergency Nursing 2018

Conference Host

Emergency Nurses Association

Conference Location

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Conference Year

2018

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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Utilization of simulation to increase SANE nurses in the ED

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Purpose: Every 98 seconds, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. SANE nurses are specifically trained to assess for injuries, collect evidence, document findings, and provide treatment, while providing compassionate care to the patient. In 2015, a need was identified to increase the number of SANEs in the ED.

Design: The ED started utilizing simulation technology to assist in both competency assessment and completion of the clinical components of SANE training. A 5-item self-survey was completed by the nurse before and after simulation to assess confidence level with SANE-specific tasks. A checklist was utilized by the instructor to ensure all areas were addressed by the nurse or taught by the instructor during the simulation.

Setting: The ED is a University-based teaching facility that sees nearly 90,000 ED visits annually, 120 of those being sexual assaults. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center for both adults and pediatric patients and have access to a state-of-the-art simulation center.

Participants/Subjects: Participants were ED nurses who had already completed their didactic portion of SANE training. The simulation was used in two ways depending on what stage the nurse was at in their clinical training and the experiences. Simulation was used to precept nurses new to sexual assault training and as a final exam to prove competency and completion of training.

Methods: Twenty-four ED nurses attended statewide sexual assault nurse examiner training between 2015-2017. All participated in a simulated mock exam and were required to complete a self-confidence self-assessment pre and post simulation. A checklist was also used to verify that all competency items were completed or taught by the instructor.

Results/Outcomes: Thirteen of the twenty-four nurses completed their clinical training requirements and became independently functioning SANEs, which is a completion rate of 54%, whereas the state average is only 28%. The average pretest self-confidence evaluation score was 23 points out of 35 points (66%). The average posttest self-confidence evaluation score was 27 points out of 35 points, or 77%, which is an increase by 11%.

Implications: In 2015, the ED evaluated 85 patients for sexual assault and 72% of these patients were treated and evaluated by a SANE. In 2017, the ED evaluated 118 patients for sexual assault and 93% of these patients were evaluated by a SANE. By utilizing simulation, not only did the number of patients increase, but the number of exams completed by a trained professional also increased. Patients received prompt, compassionate care by a competent nurse trained to do medical-forensic examinations. In order to build up an ED SANE program, simulation technology is needed. The impact of utilizing simulation technology to increase the number of SANE nurses is beneficial for the patient, the SANE nurse, and the ED staff.