Target Audience:
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of nurses, physicians, and other health and legal professionals involved in the care of pediatric sexual assault victims.
Statement of Need/Program Overview:
Pediatric forensic examinations can be intimidating. What would happen during an examination if you can’t see the rim of the hymen? Is what I’m seeing an injury or something else? Does injury always mean abuse? Are there tests to be done when abuse is suspected? This presentation will utilize case presentations to assist in answering these questions! The information is intended for novice forensic nurses.
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:
- Describe alternative techniques that may be utilized during the forensic medical examination and when to consider evidence collection.
- Identify conditions that may be misinterpreted as sexual abuse
- Discuss medical testing that may be beneficial when evaluating pediatric abuse
Presenter(s):
Emily Huggins, RN, BSN, MHA, CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Ms. Huggins expertise includes: Serving as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department at York Hospital and providing Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations for 13 years lead to the Sexual Forensic Examiner Program Manager position. Current responsibilities as the Forensic Program Manager include, direct patient service, development and implementation of policy related to forensic nursing practice, grant procurement, coordination of quality improvement initiatives, staff education for Wellspan Health, and serving as a consultant to community agencies for education, coordination of care, and public speaking needs. Serving as a member of the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Committee assisting in the development of Pennsylvania's minimum standard requirements for evidence collection. A member of the York County multidisciplinary team for victims of child abuse serving on the case review team and the advisory panel. Trained and participated in writing questions for the International Association of Forensic Nurses Sexaul Assault Nurse Examiner, Pediatric examination. A member of the York County Jane Doe Portocol development team. A member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. A member of Children Youth and Families Advisory Board, York PA. Two peer reviewed publications written related to the care of forensic medical patients.
Tracy Hunter,RN, BSN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Ms. Hunters expertise includes: Serving as a registered nurse for 18 I have worked in a variety of settings including seven years in the Emergency Department at York Hospital. While working in the Emergency Department I joined the forensic examiner team and have been with the team for 14 years. In my most recent years with the team I have served as the program coordinator adding policy development, best practice research, team education and peer review to my experince in addition to direct clinical service.