The role of the nurse in the care of sexual assault victims.

In this article, a unique and comprehensive role has been described for the nurse who functions within the context of a rape counseling team. Nurses can assume a variety of nontraditional roles in facilitating the recovery of sexual assault victims. They can function as crisis intervention counselors, victim advocates with regard to law enforcement and medical personnel, as well as educators in relation to both the victim's significant other and to legal, medical, mental health personnel with whom the victim may interact. The nurse who responds to the victim in a holistic manner, fulfilling a number of nontraditional roles, can promote the victim's smooth navigation of systems involved with her care. In so doing, the nurse provides continuity of care and facilitates the victim's recovery from the trauma of sexual assault by simplifying the process of treatment.