The Importance Of Managing Emergencies
Primary care providers, working in a clinic setting, should be prepared for any potential emergency that may present itself, being ready to make adjustments to meet patient needs. Being prepared and aware of evidence-based planning is key, to successfully managing any office emergency (Buttaro et al., 2013).
Importance of Managing Emergencies
Evidence-based Plan of Care
Clinical Presentation Sexual assault refers to any sexual act that is coerced or forced without consent, not including penetration. It is usually motivated by aggression, rage, and the domination of another being, drastically affecting its victim both physically and psychosocially. There are no known risk factors and anyone can become a victim of sexual assault regardless of sex, age, or race. Presentation may vary dependent on the patient’s comfort with their provider (Buttaro et al., 2013). The case study to be discussed in this paper is an older adult, Hispanic woman that was sexually assaulted and has come to her primary care provider for …show more content…
treatment. Individuals, who present to their provider reporting sexual assault within the past five days, should be instructed to go to the nearest emergency department for evaluation. Emergency departments have specially trained sexual assault nurses who are able to collect and preserve evidence for potential litigation, while providing appropriately sensitive care to the individual. It is important for the provider to explain to the individual what they might expect during the visit to the emergency department. Victims often fear that they will not be believed and therefore will not report the crime, feeling they will be blamed for what happened. It is best not to request information about the assault rather listen attentively, document direct quotes, and give emotional support as needed (Buttaro et al., 2013).
Subjective Data Physical injury occurs in about half of the cases of sexual assault; however, the victims are traumatized emotionally, frightened, and embarrassed and may also fear for their safety.
Upon presentation, the victim should have their immediate life threatening injuries addressed initially. Once stability of the victim is ascertained, the victim should be placed in a private setting, being sure they are not left alone. Individuals who have experienced a sexual assault tend to be in a “heightened state of awareness” with emotions running high. It is important for the provider to choose their wording carefully and be supportive of the individual throughout this process while maintaining impartiality. Individuals who have experienced a sexual assault may express powerlessness and loss of control, hopelessness, sleep disturbances, denial, shame, fear, numbness, anger, anxiety, helplessness, and/or mood swings (World Health Organization,
2013).
Objective Data Objective findings would include emotional responses, physical examination findings, and any areas of trauma. Upon physical examination of the victim note the general appearance, mental function, and demeanor. Obtain vital signs and examine the patient from head-to-toe, obtaining evidence as the exam progresses, finishing with the genital and anal area (Linden, 2011). Note and accurately describe individual sites of injury, including:
• Site of injury in anatomical terms
• Type of injury including size, length, and width.
• Shape of injury
• Color of injury
• Observable and palpable tissue injuries
• Foreign materials located on the body or wounds
• Moist or dried secretions (World Health Organization, 2013)
Photograph injuries once a separate consent for photography is obtained. Photos are important and assist in enhancing written documentation creating a permanent record of the injury, reducing subjectivity, and interpretation of the findings. Throughout the examination keep the patient informed, explaining instruments, and collection materials. Respect the patient’s decisions and allow the victim a degree of control (Linden, 2011). The individual in the case study is an older adult and Hispanic. Special considerations should include that she may have sustained more injuries due the decrease in physical strength and may be more reluctant to admit she was sexually assaulted. Since this individual is Hispanic she may have limited resources, language barriers, and consideration of her immigration status. All of these factors need to be addressed when dealing with this individual (Buttaro et al., 2013).
Importance of Managing Emergencies
Evidence-based Plan of Care
Clinical Presentation Sexual assault refers to any sexual act that is coerced or forced without consent, not including penetration. It is usually motivated by aggression, rage, and the domination of another being, drastically affecting its victim both physically and psychosocially. There are no known risk factors and anyone can become a victim of sexual assault regardless of sex, age, or race. Presentation may vary dependent on the patient’s comfort with their provider (Buttaro et al., 2013). The case study to be discussed in this paper is an older adult, Hispanic woman that was sexually assaulted and has come to her primary care provider for …show more content…
treatment. Individuals, who present to their provider reporting sexual assault within the past five days, should be instructed to go to the nearest emergency department for evaluation. Emergency departments have specially trained sexual assault nurses who are able to collect and preserve evidence for potential litigation, while providing appropriately sensitive care to the individual. It is important for the provider to explain to the individual what they might expect during the visit to the emergency department. Victims often fear that they will not be believed and therefore will not report the crime, feeling they will be blamed for what happened. It is best not to request information about the assault rather listen attentively, document direct quotes, and give emotional support as needed (Buttaro et al., 2013).
Subjective Data Physical injury occurs in about half of the cases of sexual assault; however, the victims are traumatized emotionally, frightened, and embarrassed and may also fear for their safety.
Upon presentation, the victim should have their immediate life threatening injuries addressed initially. Once stability of the victim is ascertained, the victim should be placed in a private setting, being sure they are not left alone. Individuals who have experienced a sexual assault tend to be in a “heightened state of awareness” with emotions running high. It is important for the provider to choose their wording carefully and be supportive of the individual throughout this process while maintaining impartiality. Individuals who have experienced a sexual assault may express powerlessness and loss of control, hopelessness, sleep disturbances, denial, shame, fear, numbness, anger, anxiety, helplessness, and/or mood swings (World Health Organization,
2013).
Objective Data Objective findings would include emotional responses, physical examination findings, and any areas of trauma. Upon physical examination of the victim note the general appearance, mental function, and demeanor. Obtain vital signs and examine the patient from head-to-toe, obtaining evidence as the exam progresses, finishing with the genital and anal area (Linden, 2011). Note and accurately describe individual sites of injury, including:
• Site of injury in anatomical terms
• Type of injury including size, length, and width.
• Shape of injury
• Color of injury
• Observable and palpable tissue injuries
• Foreign materials located on the body or wounds
• Moist or dried secretions (World Health Organization, 2013)
Photograph injuries once a separate consent for photography is obtained. Photos are important and assist in enhancing written documentation creating a permanent record of the injury, reducing subjectivity, and interpretation of the findings. Throughout the examination keep the patient informed, explaining instruments, and collection materials. Respect the patient’s decisions and allow the victim a degree of control (Linden, 2011). The individual in the case study is an older adult and Hispanic. Special considerations should include that she may have sustained more injuries due the decrease in physical strength and may be more reluctant to admit she was sexually assaulted. Since this individual is Hispanic she may have limited resources, language barriers, and consideration of her immigration status. All of these factors need to be addressed when dealing with this individual (Buttaro et al., 2013).