Product Detail

1. Recognize the unique medical, psychosocial and legal needs for patients who have been sexually assaulted.
2. Evaluate the national protocols and evidence-based practice guidelines for patients who have been sexually assaulted.
3. Learn techniques for collection, preservation, and storage of appropriate evidentiary specimens.
4. Determine appropriate crisis intervention and advocacy services based on the individual patient’s presentation.
5. Appropriately document findings of the sexual assault examination.
6. Demonstrate an optimal ability to care for and communicate with patients who have been sexually assaulted with confidence and compassion.

Key Medical Considerations for a Sexual Assault Victim

• Assess for acute trauma
• Determine healthcare team members to be involved
• Medical examination
• Lab work to order
• Medications: Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Plan B, tetanus, hepatitis B vaccine, antiemetic, pain relief

Compassionate Psychosocial Care

• Techniques for the emotional support needed for these patients
• Symptoms may include: anger, fear, anxiety, physical pain, sleep disturbance, anorexia, shame, guilt, PTSD, depression, or anxiety
• A chaperone or advocate should be present during the evaluation
• Mandatory reporting: All children, disabled persons, elderly

Legal and Forensic Responsibilities

• Video exam of patient who has been sexually assaulted
• Consent
• Taking the history of the assault
• Toxicology
• Head-to-toe assessment
• Oral trauma exam and evidence collection
• Fingernail samples
• Bite marks
• Photographs
• Common site of genital trauma
• Vaginal exam and evidence collection
• Penile exam and evidence collection
• Anorectal exam and evidence collection
• Terms to use for documenting injuries

Hands-on Skill Stations

(There are seven scenario-based skill stations where you can actively learn and safely practice the principles of evidence collection. Afterwards, Meredith will discuss and illustrate the best practices for each scenario/station.)

• Skill Station 1 : Review of evidence collection kit and paperwork
• Skill Station 2 : Hair, finger & nail samples
• Skill Station 3 : Toxicology kit
• Skill Station 4 : Oral assault with additional swabs
  • Including alternative light source (ALS) such as a woods lamp to identify stains and injury
  • Swabbing techniques
• Skill Station 5 : Review of bite mark lacerations and additional injuries
• Skill Station 6 : Pelvic and rectal exams
  • Proper use of speculum with sterile water
  • Evidence collection techniques of foreign body - the importance of time frames for evidence collection
• Skill Station 7 : Clothing collection
  • Techniques of preserving, packaging and documenting
  • Practice chain of custody/police reposing

Simulation and Debriefing

(Simulation experience is an essential aspect of developing communication skills to gain an understanding of the communication, health promoting and disease prevention measures.)

• Skills to optimize communication during a high stress time
• Medical clearance
• Administration of HIV PEP
• Administration of STI prophylactic medications
• Discussion on Plan B option
• Psychological supports: Social worker, after care clinic and follow-up
• Patient who refuses evidence collection
• Legal aspects of law enforcement, forensic exams and drug facilitated assault/toxicology kits

Special populations (includes case studies)

• Elderly assaults
• Mentally disabled
• Children
• Drug facilitated assaults
• Human trafficking

Colleen Pedrotty is currently a Clinical Education Specialist for the Emergency Room, Pediatric, and Neuro ICU at St Mary's Medical Center. She has dedicated over twenty years of her career to emergency nursing, including providing bedside care and managing Level I trauma centers, and staff education. She is a patient advocate for sexual assault victims, from presentation in the ED to providing expert testimony in the courtroom.

Colleen has been a featured speaker for PESI and state and regional emergency conferences. She has been invited to speak at international conferences on victims of sexual assault and has presented across the US on trauma nursing for the US Army. Colleen provides high-energy presentations where clinical skills are bought to life using memorable examples that will remain with learners for a lifetime!

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Colleen Pedrotty has an employment relationship with St. Mary Medical Center; Aria Health System; and Lower Bucks Hospital. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Colleen Pedrotty has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

For U.S. and Canadian customers, a CE test is available for $9.99 USD per participant. International CE rates may vary; please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.

Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations.

Certificates of Successful Completion may be emailed, faxed or mailed to participants completing the post-test/evaluation and paying the CE fee.

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

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Nurses/Nurse Practitioners/Clinical Nurse Specialists - Credit Expired: 3/5/2018
No CE available for this board.

California Nurses: PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #:17118 for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

Florida Nurses: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

Iowa Nurses: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Provider #: 346. Nurses successfully completing these self-study materials will earn 6.0 self-study contact hours.

Copies of the evaluation may be sent to the IBON. You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

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Other Professions
This self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 clock hours of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

Disclaimer: **Information obtained in this course should be used within your scope of practice.
**It is your ethical responsibility to report accurate hours to your licensing board.
**All self-study participants must complete and pass (80% or better) a post-test and evaluation prior to receiving a certificate of completion. If you require a copy of the test/evaluation for CE purposes, please print at the time you take the test. Or you may call our customer service department and a copy of your test/evaluation will be emailed to you. Please allow 30-45 days.

Midwives, Paramedics, EMTs, Nurses, Physician Assistants, and other Healthcare Professionals