HCSS Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Registered Nurse)

Job Summary:

Per diem position.

Proficient Clinician. Practice is characterized by a balance of interdependent/independent decision making and a consistent holistic approach to patient care.

Major Duties / Critical Tasks:

• Aware of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas (OAG) requirements for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification and re-certification
• Submit paperwork to the OAG prior to expiration date.
• Using specialized training, knowledge, and skills, to proficiently assess, identify actual and potential nursing patient care needs to provide comprehensive care for the sexual assault patients.
• Demonstrate competency in conducting the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination with evidence collection on a sexual assault patient.
• Aware of the Texas Protocol for forensic evidence collection.
• Aware of updates from the Texas Department of Safety Crime Laboratory on current improved techniques for evidence collection and storage as relates to sexual assault patients.
• Proficiently and consistently completes accurate, concise, and legible documentation on all patient forensic records (written, illustrated and photo-imaging) and hospital records.
• Be prepared to complete a suspect patient examination.
• Proficient in maintaining chain of custody.
• Prepared to testify in court and possibly be an expert witness.
• Implements and promotes individualized approach to provide compassion and understanding.
• Demonstrates caring, compassion, and sensitivity to the patients of sexual assault.
• Safely and proficiently provides age appropriate and culturally sensitive nursing care to sexual assault patients.
• Actively serves as a patient / family advocate consistently focuses on patient / family rights and meeting their individual needs
• Proficiently assess the patient / family readiness to learn, implement appropriate teaching strategies and evaluate understanding of information / instructions given.
• Aware of community resources for the sexual assault patients.
• Functions independently and as a supportive team member of the Forensic Nursing Team.
• Identifies learning needs of self and others.
• Puts needs of others above his / hers own through accountability , compassion, integrity, and respect
• Promotes and displays a professional verbal and nonverbal demeanor
• Participate in preceptorship of new sexual assault nurse examiners.
• Serves as a forensic resource for the hospital staff.
• Serves as a Liaison to community agencies.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team consisting of: Law Enforcement, Protective Services, Resource & Crisis Center, Child Advocacy Center, and District Attorney’s Office.
• Participate in community education.
• Collaborate with Forensic Nursing Team Program Coordinator and medical director.
• Attend Sexual Assault training, conferences and case review for education and recertification requirements as per OAG guidelines.
• Attend conferences to pursue ongoing professional growth opportunities and share with forensic nurses and other staff members.
• Accepts responsibility for own growth development.
• Utilizes sexual assault nursing research and quality improvement to enhance practice.
• Performs and reports point of care testing.
• Provides and maintains a clean safe environment, performs proper aseptic technique preventing cross contamination of DNA from one patient to another.
• Aware of and stays within the guidelines of the sexual assault related policies and procedures.
• Aware of updates on legislation regarding sexual assault issues.
• Aware of the standard medication orders for prophylaxis related to the sexual assault.
• Adheres to internal controls established for the department
• Performs other related duties as required.