Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Nurses who evaluate patients following sexual assault are often faced with the task of identifying genital injuries and providing legal testimony regarding the nature of the injuries. Following a 2000 Virginia State court decision, sexual assault nurse examiners have had to struggle to answer the questions, "Are the genital injuries consistent with the patient's history?" and "Are the genital injuries consistent with sexual assault?" ⋯ Currently, the presence or absence of genital injury should not be used to render an opinion regarding consent to sexual intercourse. Further research is necessary to determine if injury patterns can indeed distinguish consensual from nonconsensual sex.
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Despite evidence to support efficacy of early goal-directed therapy for resuscitation of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in the emergency department, implementation remains incomplete. To identify and address specific barriers at our institution and maximize benefits of a planned sepsis treatment initiative, a baseline assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding detection and treatment of severe sepsis was performed. ⋯ Knowledge gaps and procedural hurdles identified by the survey will inform both educational and process components of an initiative to improve sepsis care in the emergency department.