Abstract

Poster presentation

Session C presented Monday, September 30, 1:00-2:00 pm

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to increase the clinical nurse knowledge base and comfort level in caring for the sexual assault patient in our department including maintaining the chain of custody and decreasing the wait time for transfer to a SART center. Clinical training for ER staff will improve advocacy for sexual assault patients presenting to the Emergency room as well as admissibility of forensic evidence collection. Our department is a Level One Trauma Center and we receive critical patients who are transferred to the SART center after stabilization. The objective is to create an algorithm based on a new policy for management treatment and transfer of patient reporting sexual assault/sexual abuse in our Emergency Department.

Design:

The design we are utilizing is a staff development project in assessing staff knowledge regarding care of the sexual assault patient presenting to the ER. Survey results will guide training needs as we are planning on obtaining a post test after training is completed. A quick reference algorithm is being designed based on a new hospital policy. This quick reference guide will delineate the nursing process for the sexual assault/sexual abuse patient.

Setting: The study setting is a Level One Trauma Center emergency department in a large, metropolitan teaching university hospital in a moderate to high crime area.

Participants/Subjects: All ED RN staff will participate in this project.

Methods: Findings obtained from surveys regarding nursing understanding of the care of a sexual assault patient are being implemented in our educational program including a power point presentation at staff meetings, huddle messages, and utilization of an algorithm for quick reference. We are incorporating an individual sign off with the designated education champion to validate competency. The instrument of measurement consists of pre and post surveys regarding clinical knowledge of the care of the SART patient in our ED. Survey data will be entered into an EXCEL spreadsheet and findings will be graphed. Conclusions will drive further educational needs.

Results/Outcomes: Preliminary data show a low level of knowledge regarding the maintenance of the chain of custody and preservation of evidence including methods to improve transfer times of patients to the SART center after stabilization. We anticipate post survey data will reflect improvement of such vital tasks.

Implications: We believe that an educational program directed to our ED nurse staff will improve staff knowledge of chain of custody procedures, increase the bedside nurses' clinical knowledge level in caring for this population and decrease transfer times to the SART center. Recommendations for unit educators and leadership will be proposed to apply best practice for considerations when caring for individuals who report being sexually assaulted.

Author Details

Kelly L. Flor, RN, BSN, MICN, PHN; Mara E. Landa, BA, RN, CFN, SANE-A, SANE-P

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

SART, Assault, Emergency

Conference Name

Emergency Nursing 2019

Conference Host

Emergency Nurses Association

Conference Location

Austin, Texas, USA

Conference Year

2019

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

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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RN practice of SART patient in a non-SART hospital

Austin, Texas, USA

Poster presentation

Session C presented Monday, September 30, 1:00-2:00 pm

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to increase the clinical nurse knowledge base and comfort level in caring for the sexual assault patient in our department including maintaining the chain of custody and decreasing the wait time for transfer to a SART center. Clinical training for ER staff will improve advocacy for sexual assault patients presenting to the Emergency room as well as admissibility of forensic evidence collection. Our department is a Level One Trauma Center and we receive critical patients who are transferred to the SART center after stabilization. The objective is to create an algorithm based on a new policy for management treatment and transfer of patient reporting sexual assault/sexual abuse in our Emergency Department.

Design:

The design we are utilizing is a staff development project in assessing staff knowledge regarding care of the sexual assault patient presenting to the ER. Survey results will guide training needs as we are planning on obtaining a post test after training is completed. A quick reference algorithm is being designed based on a new hospital policy. This quick reference guide will delineate the nursing process for the sexual assault/sexual abuse patient.

Setting: The study setting is a Level One Trauma Center emergency department in a large, metropolitan teaching university hospital in a moderate to high crime area.

Participants/Subjects: All ED RN staff will participate in this project.

Methods: Findings obtained from surveys regarding nursing understanding of the care of a sexual assault patient are being implemented in our educational program including a power point presentation at staff meetings, huddle messages, and utilization of an algorithm for quick reference. We are incorporating an individual sign off with the designated education champion to validate competency. The instrument of measurement consists of pre and post surveys regarding clinical knowledge of the care of the SART patient in our ED. Survey data will be entered into an EXCEL spreadsheet and findings will be graphed. Conclusions will drive further educational needs.

Results/Outcomes: Preliminary data show a low level of knowledge regarding the maintenance of the chain of custody and preservation of evidence including methods to improve transfer times of patients to the SART center after stabilization. We anticipate post survey data will reflect improvement of such vital tasks.

Implications: We believe that an educational program directed to our ED nurse staff will improve staff knowledge of chain of custody procedures, increase the bedside nurses' clinical knowledge level in caring for this population and decrease transfer times to the SART center. Recommendations for unit educators and leadership will be proposed to apply best practice for considerations when caring for individuals who report being sexually assaulted.