Springfield outranks every other area of the state, except Kansas City, in reports of sexual assault. Springfield Police report 79 cases of rape just this year. But our area has a shortage of medical personnel specially trained in handling those cases. Southwest Missouri has the fewest number of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners in the state. At Cox Health, there are only three, and those three work in administration.
So some Cox staff decided to do something about the need, and get more nurses trained.
It's one of the most traumatic things a person can experience, but going to the emergency room after a sexual assault, can also be very difficult.
"It's really hard to relive that event over and over again, so we try to get the SANE trained nurse in with them right away," explains Cox Health Staff Nurse, Jennifer Burk.
Burk is working towards her certification as a SANE trained nurse. She knows it will give her more confidence and victims better care, and a better case. "SANE certified nurses know what evidence to look for, even if it's not obvious like a rip in a shirt or bleeding from a wound. We are trained to look at different areas that you might not suspect, like under the fingernails or even in the teeth if they've bitten their attacker," Burk says.
Of course, a victim's medical needs come first, but then comes the careful process of collecting evidence. When a victim tells their story, a police officer and a victim's advocate are often present as well.
Burke explains, "The big thing is to not make them tell their story 4 different times to 4 different people."
When a victim comes to the ER, They may be in an exam room for 2 to 5 hours while a SANE nurse processes the sexual assault kit. "If they get bit or spit on, or anything like that, you could swab that, and they can actually get DNA evidence off of that," Burk says.
The SANE trained nurse will also collect samples such as blood, urine, hair, and fingernail scrapings, fill out a report for investigators, and if the victim hasn't changed clothes, they too will be collected. " We'll lay a sheet on the floor, have them undress one item of clothing at a time, we bag it all separately, put evidence tape on it," says Burk.
Burk says she's already learned a lot, and she hopes other nurses will consider becoming SANE trained too. "It is a need that we have to address," says Burk.
St. Luke's Hospital from Kansas City, Springfield Police, the Highway Patrol Crime Lab, and the Victim Center are among those helping to make the upcoming training possible. The training will be November 3rd, 4th, 18th and 19th. Anyone interested can call (417)269-4094, (417)269-4117 or e-mail education@coxhealth.com
Cox Health is inviting all registered nurses and professionals who work with sexual assault victims, regardless of employer, from all over southwest Missouri. source
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