NCJ Number
45829
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE RESPONSE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO THE NEEDS OF RAPE VICTIMS IS DISCUSSED, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF NURSES IN COORDINATING INTERDISPLINARY TEAMS WHO SERVE RAPE VICTIMS IN HEALTH FACILITIES.
Abstract
A NATIONWIDE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1975 FOUND SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS, MODEL APPROACHES, AND PROTOCOL FOR SERVING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BUT ALSO FOUND INCONSISTENCIES AND A DECIDED LACK OF SERVICES IN SOME INSTANCES. RAPE VICTIM CENTERS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AND STUDIES CONDUCTED IN BOSTON, MASS., MIAMI, FLA., SEATTLE, WASH., AND NEW ORLEANS, LA. A GROUP OF FEMALE PSYCHIATRISTS IN NORTH CAROLINA WROTE A BOOK THAT EXPLORES THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHIATRIST IN DEALING WITH VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. ALL OF THESE EFFORTS HAVE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO RAPE VICTIMS. THIS APPROACH INVOLVES COLLABORATION BOTH AMONG HEALTH TEAM MEMBERS AND BETWEEN THE HEALTH TEAM AND OTHER AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH RAPE VICTIMS (THE POLICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, RAPE VICTIM ADVOCATES). THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS HAS DEVELOPED PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES THAT CAN BE USED BY HEALTH FACILITIES IN TREATING RAPE VICTIMS. SEVERAL HOSPITALS HAVE DEVELOPED MODEL FORMS AND PROTOCOL. NURSES ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO COORDINATE THE ORGANIZED, ONGOING CARE OF RAPE VICTIMS. (LKM)