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If you're raped in North Carolina, where should you go? A certified sexual assault nurse examiner is the best option, but where are they? No agency in North Carolina tracks them.
So I asked all ~130 hospitals if they had SANE nurses. #journalism
So I asked all ~130 hospitals if they had SANE nurses. #journalism
Here is the resulting story, part 1 of 2 (with more to come): https://carolinapublicpress.org/41683/rape-victims-need-help-from-specialized-nurses-but-no-one-in-nc-keeps-track-of-them/
Last year CPP + news partners deeply reported North Carolina's prosecution rates for sexual assault. Here, fewer than 1 in 4 defendants are eventually convicted of sexual assault or a related crime. You can read that work here: https://carolinapublicpress.org/seeking-conviction/
In the course of that reporting, victims were telling me they were bounced from hospital to hospital until they could get an exam. Why? Doesn't anyone know where they are?
Part of the reason I did a survey is because no agency in North Carolina tracks where they are
Part of the reason I did a survey is because no agency in North Carolina tracks where they are
Some victims even come from out of state to the middle of North Carolina to get a SANE exam because there's nothing where they are, either.
Some victims have been looking for care for 17 or 19 hours, Rossi said, before they reach her.
Some victims take time to decide whether they want to go to the hospital. It takes time to navigate the complex emotions of what's happened to them. To get the courage to seek help.
Some victims take time to decide whether they want to go to the hospital. It takes time to navigate the complex emotions of what's happened to them. To get the courage to seek help.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. SANEs do more than collect evidence for prosecution. They help prevent STI, provide emergency contraception and emotional support.
You have to get on treatment for HIV and hepatitis prevention very soon after an assault, too.
You have to get on treatment for HIV and hepatitis prevention very soon after an assault, too.
To be clear, you do not have to be a SANE nurse to help an assault victim, collect a kit or to provide STI prevention, emergency contraception or medication to prevent HIV/hepatitis. But those who aren't trained may not know to take these steps.
We asked hospitals:
Do you have certified SANE nurses? How many? What hours do they work?
If you don't why? If you used to have SANEs what happened? What is your biggest challenge serving sexual assault victims?
Do you have certified SANE nurses? How many? What hours do they work?
If you don't why? If you used to have SANEs what happened? What is your biggest challenge serving sexual assault victims?
To the many hospitals that answered all of my questions, thank you very much. Your response informs my reporting.
Here is a list of the hospitals that did not respond at all after at least two attempts by multiple people:
Here is a list of the hospitals that did not respond at all after at least two attempts by multiple people:
If you are at one of these hospitals and you want to fill out the survey, please contact me and I'll correct the record here.
[email protected]
[email protected]
If you have experienced sexual assault and need to talk to someone, you can start with @RAINN
800-656-HOPE
Or live chat: ttps://www.rainn.org/
800-656-HOPE
Or live chat: ttps://www.rainn.org/
