NCJ Number
226198
Date Published
August 2007
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This study examined domestic violence as a health care issue in the promotion of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program.
Abstract
SANEs are specialists in one of the most well-known fields within the arena of forensic nursing. However, many SANEs are moving beyond sexual assault patients, using their education and experience to expand their clinical practices to accommodate victims of other forms of interpersonal violence. These specially-educated nurses can be a valuable resource to prosecutors, particularly in cases where the victim may be unwilling or unable to testify. This monograph examines the basic components of the domestic violence medico-legal examination; the potential for using findings from the medico-legal examination in prosecutions; and the role of the prosecutor and other Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) members in expanding forensic nursing programs to include care of the domestic violence victim. Topics include: The Role of the Forensic Nurse, the Domestic Violence Medico-Legal Examination, Using the Forensic Nurse as an Expert Witness, Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Program Development, and Beyond SART: The Multidisciplinary Approach to Victims of Domestic Violence. Appendixes include a sample forensic nurse examiner job description, scope of practice in intimate partner violence nursing, and overcoming Crawford issues.