Forensic Nurse-SANE, Full Time, Night Shift

About the Role

A Forensic Nurse (or SANE Nurse) is a registered nurse who is specially-trained to provide care for victims of sexual assault. The SANE documents the patient’s account of the assault, performs necessary medical exams, and collects forensic samples that may be used in prosecution of the crime. SANEs are trained in both the physical and emotional aspects of caring for victims of sexual assault and collaborate with advocates from local rape crisis centers to provide resources and support to victims. The SANE becomes an integral part of the multidisciplinary team and should be knowledgeable in the nursing process, forensic sample collection, victim’s needs, and legal responsibilities.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Current Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which services will be provided or current multi-state Registered Nurse license through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• Obtain certification in Basic Life Support within 30 days of hire date.
• Documented completion of 40-hour SANE training course (administered at department level).
• Must complete 25-hour competency-based training, documented at department level.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN).
• Associate of Science in Nursing Degree (ASN) or Diploma, currently enrolled in a BSN program with BSN completed within 5 years of hire.

Responsibilities

• Assumes responsibility, displays appropriate use of authority, and accepts accountability in the delivery of patient care.
• Provides direct patient care to victims of sexual assault within a designated shift, based on the nursing process and within role/scope of practice.
• Implements appropriate clinical decisions and demonstrates appropriate use of expert peers and/or management, as applicable.
• Initiates actions to correct, reduce, and/or prevent risk in response to data indicating commonly occurring risks to patient health status.
• Provides coordinated and comprehensive patient care including assessment, expected outcomes, nursing interventions, and evaluation within an interdisciplinary team approach.
• Negotiates patient care tasks with family/patient within safe practice guidelines.
• Appropriately delegates patient care tasks to assigned personnel, providing follow-up for completion and patient response.
• Accepts accountability and uses independent nursing judgment for care provided by self and by health care providers to whom care is delegated.
• Demonstrates the appropriate use of standards, effective use of resources, and evaluation of patient response in the delivery of patient care.
• Uses standards of care and standards of practice to guide care delivery.
• Bases decisions made/actions taken on relevant scientific principles, established standards of care, and/or research findings.
• Seeks assistance/credible resource when unable to perform safely and independently.
• Performs evaluation of patient response to tasks performed and delegated.
• Determines/revises priorities for direct/indirect patient care activities based on patient acuity and available resources.
• Engages in mentoring and networking activities to promote professional development.
• Fosters the integration of staff and/or students into the health care team.
• Facilitates incorporation of the unit's mission, values, and vision.
• Functions to promote trusting relationships and open, honest communication at the unit level.
• Engages in exchange of information relevant to specific patient assignment.
• Interacts with various members of the health care team to meet patient care needs.
• 24 hours of call required each month, with 8 of the 24 call hours occurring on the weekend.

Physical Requirements

• Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, and carrying of patients, materials, and equipment weighing 40+ lbs.

Working Environment

• Working closely with others.
• Protracted or irregular hours.
• Working around biohazards.
• Working around infectious diseases.
• Working with or near the deceased.
• Working with hands in water.
• Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

Schedule

• 0.9 FTE (36 scheduled weekly hours).
• 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 PM – 7:00 AM).
• Night shift.

Location: 1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, West Virginia. Cost Center: 51 WVUH Nursing Emergency Services.