A lack of nurses trained to examine sexual assault victims is leaving many rape survivors in the lurch and resulting in states taking matters into their own hands, according to a York Dispatch report.
The U.S. is experiencing a nationwide shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners. A 2016 study conducted by the by the U.S. Government Accountability Office analyzed six states and found the number of sexual assault nurse examiners in those states did not meet the demand for exams, especially in rural areas, according to the Dispatch.
Women often have to travel far to find sexual assault nurse examinersto collect physical evidence of the assault.
In 2014, Leah Griffin went to a hospital after being raped, but found there was no nurse trained in sexual assault to help her. She went to another hospital 30 minutes away the next day where she was examined and evidence was collected for a rape kit. Posecutors later cited the delay in collecting evidence as one of the reasons they did not charge Ms. Griffin's allgeged attacker.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray heard Ms. Griffin's story and introduced the Survivors' Access to Supportive Care Act in 2016, which would fund state-level surveys to identify areas with the biggest shortages of sexual assault nurse examiners, increase access to sexual assault nurse examiner training and establish national standards of care for sexual assault victims. The legislation has not been passed, though it has been introduced every year since 2016.
Some states are looking to alternatives for ensuring rape victims have access to adequately trained nurses. Using a federal grant, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health set up a national telenursing center which to allows sexual assault nurse examiners to consult via video with clinicians in rural, tribal and naval hospitals.
Illinois passed a law last year that requires rape victims to be seen by sexual assault nurse examiners within 90 minutes of their arrival to a hospital. The law will take effect in 2022.