RN-SAFE-Emergency Room

Job Description:

Education:

Required: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master's degree in Nursing

Licensure/Certification:

Required: California RN License; American Heart Association BLS and ACLS; PALS within 30 days of hire
Preferred: SANE-A certification (American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)) in Advanced Forensic Nursing (AFN-BC)

Experience:

Required: Two (2) years of experience as an acute care registered nurse
Preferred: Experience in emergency department, labor and deliver, telemetry or critical care and experience conducting sexual assault exams

Essential Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates compliance with Code of Conduct and compliance policies, and takes action to resolve compliance questions or concerns and report suspected violations.
• Obtains appropriate consents for treatment, mediation administration, photography and forensic exam.
• Provides crisis intervention; appropriately refers victims for immediate and follow-up medical care and/or counseling.
• Evaluates pregnancy risk and offer prevention.
• Assesses, documents, and seeks care for injuries noted on forensic exam.
• Obtains history of assault per CalEMA specifications.
• Performs general and ano-genital examinations for the detection of physical findings; reports any findings that may require medical intervention to Emergency Department staff and physicians.
• Provides timely, thorough, and professional forensic evidence collection, documentation, and preservation of evidence.
• Accurately assesses, photographs, and documents findings on appropriate Forms following pre-established state medical protocol.
• Prepares, packages and seals evidentiary kit maintaining chain of evidence per law enforcement’s protocol.
• Evaluates and treats prophylactically for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); provides prophylactic treatment per standing orders for sexually transmitted diseases as appropriate or as ordered by the ER physician.
• Administers medication for pregnancy prevention per standing orders as appropriate or as ordered by the ER physician; obtains informed consent as appropriate.
• Provides crisis intervention and ongoing support and education to victims and support persons throughout treatment; appropriately refer victims for immediate and follow-up medical care and/or counseling
• Provides discharge instructions, follow-up medical care options and referrals to include Victims of Violent Crime Compensation.
• Completes child abuse and or elder abuse reporting form as required by California State abuse Reporting Law.
• Refers patient to Emergency Room physician for further evaluation and care as warranted.
• Cleans and disinfects examination area including swab dryer with
• Performs forensic examinations per protocol.
• Participates in peer review, process improvement and quality review.
• Maintains annual competencies to conduct forensic evidentiary examinations.

Essential Skils:

• Ability to communicate and relate positively, effectively, and professionally with others
• Frequent changes in position during routine examination are required which usually entails sitting, squatting and standing
• Knowledge of current federal, state and local standards for evidence collection
• Ability to provide crisis intervention/counseling
• Assist patients with ambulation, positioning and wheelchair/gurney placement
• Knowledge of forensic documentation, as well as testifying as both an expert and fact witness
• Ability to work with persons from culturally diverse communities
• Frequent lifting and carrying of objects weighing approximately ten pounds or less
• Knowledge of the prosecution process and evidentiary collection, including biological, photographic and trace evidence, procedures related to the forensic/medical examination of patients
• Ability to work independently without supervision; but is strong team player
• Ability to write legibly with professional quality
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to interpersonal violence, including sexual assault
• Ability use computer, printer, and software/storage programs necessary to the position