The Working Relationship Between Emergency Room Nurses and Medical Rape Victim Advocates: A Qualitative Examination of Nurses’ Perceptions of the Influence of Nurse Training and Experience on Nurse–Advocate Interactions

Abstract

Nurses and medical advocates respond to sexual assault survivors seeking hospital services. Ideally, both providers work collaboratively. However, this does not always happen. Extant research on the nurse–advocate relationship focuses on Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs). This study examines how ER nurses perceive their training and experience influence the working relationships between emergency room (ER) nurses (not exclusively SANEs) and medical advocates. Key findings indicate nurses perceive increased training improves (a) role understanding, (b) trust, (c) respect, (d) rapport, and (e) appreciation. Less training was associated with poorer role understanding and trust.