Facilitators Manual - Emergency Care Institute

FACILITATORs’ Manual Transition to Emergency Nursing3.11 ASSAULTACTIVITY 47Read your local policy on forensic evidence collection so that you are aware of the procedures inyour department.As per individual emergency department – discuss with participant.ACTIVITY 48Review your facility’s policy/procedure for the management of sexual assault presentations andbriefly discuss.Discuss with participant. As per local policy.ACTIVITY 49Discuss with your facilitator or support person, consent and issues related to forensics for a sexualassault victim?Discuss with participant. As per local policy.26ACTIVITY 50Q1. Who can perform a forensic medical examination on a sexual assault patient?Discuss with participant.Trained sexual assault forensic examiners are required to carry out timely forensic and generalexaminations on patients. The examiners may be either nurses or medical officers who have attendedspecialist training. Training requirements include knowledge of the NSW Health Sexual Assault ServicesPolicy And Procedure Manual (Adult) PD2005_67 (NSW Health, 2005).Q2. Who can witness a forensic medical examination?Discuss with participant.Patients must be offered the opportunity to have a support person of their choice present during theforensic examination (NSW Health, 2005). The counsellor may act as both a support person for thepatient and as a witness to the examination. If the support person is not employed by a Health ServiceAct as a witness to the examination, an appropriate Health Service employee will need to act and signas a witness for the examination.ACTIVITY 51As an emergency nurse, what do you do if a patient discloses domestic violence? Investigate thereferral and support process available in your emergency department.Discuss with participant. As per individual emergency department.ACTIVITY 52Discuss the effects of domestic violence relating to children, what are the requirements for mandatoryreporting? Familiarise yourself with the legislation in relation to child protection.Discuss as required or appropriate.3.12 ELDERLYACTIVITY 53Describe the clinical considerations relevant to elderly patients with regard to each system.Discuss with participant.Decreased biting force and brittle due to reduction in enamel. They may even have false teeth in situ.These should remain in situ unless they are loose or pose a threat to the airway.An increase in residual lung volume.