Medical Advocates’ Care for Sexual Assault Survivors: Emergency Room Nurses’ Perspectives

This qualitative study examined what medical advocates do that is helpful and unhelpful in their interactions with sexual assault survivors from the perspective of nurses. Data were <i>N</i> = 22 semistructured interviews with sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) and non-SANEs. Inductive thematic analysis was used. Helpful ways advocates worked with survivors included <i>providing emotional support</i>, <i>caring for tangible needs</i>, <i>providing information</i>, <i>supporting patient choice</i>, <i>staying with and focusing on the patient</i>, and <i>facilitating follow-up care</i>. Unhelpful ways advocates worked with survivors included <i>poor patient service</i> and <i>not respecting patient wishes.</i> SANE training did not influence nurses' perceptions of advocate helpfulness.