JUNE 2018
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
SANE Nurses Go Above and Beyond
gowns. We realized that when we gave them brand new clothing, it helped restore them and gave them a little of their humanity back.”
SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurses are specially trained to treat victims of sexual assault. Since the founding of the program at ECMC nearly a decade ago, SANE nurses have advocated for better equipment to aid in special examinations and better evidence collection for the prosecution of cases. Not only have they gotten more resources for patients, they have improved the outcomes for sexual assault survivors.
There are currently nine SANE nurses at ECMC, and the program is always looking for more nurses and more resources. Loretta Palmero, RN, said, “It may not be for everyone, but being a SANE nurse is personally the most fulfilling part of being a nurse for me. Sexual assault is very underreported. We are trying to do more education in the hospital around what we do. If anyone has a question about sexual assault, we always have a SANE nurse on call who can answer questions.”
Program Director, Karen Beckman-Pilcher explains, “The SANE program is about more than getting a prosecution. It’s about health. We have medication to keep people physically healthy. We have crisis intervention to take care of psychological health, which takes longer to heal. We are nurses first. We advocate for the whole patients’ well-being.” In May, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SANE nurses coordinated a month-long “comfort kit” collection initiative, where nurses and other volunteers assembled over 200 comfort kits and raised $1,000 from foundations, individuals, and businesses, including NYSNA, which donated $500. “The comfort kits started as an idea we nurses had, then turned into a little charity called Healing Threads,” said Mary Molly Shea, RN. “It can be painful for a patient to give over their clothes as evidence—and for many women, they may be giving up their favorite outfit or only good bra. Some women would go home in hospital
“I’m so proud of the SANE nurses because they go above and beyond what is required of an ER nurse,” said Karen. “We are always accepting donations, and we have more activities planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October and Sexual Assault Awareness Month next May.” SANE nurses were pleased with the success of their most recent fundraising drive, which gained local media attention. In reflecting on the success of the comfort kit drive, Mary Molly said, “Nurses should know that whatever their areas is, small meaningful projects can make a big difference. The big lesson I learned is that it doesn’t hurt to ask when you need something.” ECMC nurses can drop by the Emergency Department to donate cash, new clothes or toiletries. They can also seek out Karen or Loretta for advice or referrals concerning sexual assault or domestic violence.