Emergency Nurses Association Commends Inclusion of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Provision in NDAA

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Dec 31, 2013, 04:00 ET

DES PLAINES, Ill., Dec. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Emergency Nurses Association congratulates the House of Representatives and Senate for including language in the National Defense Authorization Act that provides for the increased presence of sexual assault nurse examiners in the military to treat victims of sexual assault and ensure that forensic evidence is properly collected.

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The National Defense Authorization Act was approved by the House on December 12 on a vote of 350-69 and the Senate on December 19 by an 85-19 margin. The bill was signed into law by President Obama on December 26.

The National Defense Authorization Act includes language supported by ENA that requires the assignment of at least one full-time sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) to each military medical facility in which an emergency department operates 24 hours per day. Additional SANEs may be assigned based on the demographics of the patients who utilize a medical facility.

In addition, the provision specifies that SANEs assigned to military facilities must meet the training and certification requirements set forth by the Secretary of Defense.

"I am very pleased that the House and Senate have included this bipartisan legislation that will ensure that highly-trained nurses will now be available to provide treatment to sexual assault victims in our military," said 2013 ENA President JoAnn Lazarus, MSN, RN, CEN. "The requirement that each 24-hour military medical facility be staffed by at least one sexual assault nurse examiner is an important step in improving the medical care provided to victims."

About the Emergency Nurses Association

ENA, which has more than 40,000 members worldwide, is the only professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing and emergency care through advocacy, expertise, innovation and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA develops and disseminates education and practice standards and guidelines, and affords consultation to both private and public entities regarding emergency nurses and their practice. Additional information is available at ENA's Web site, www.ena.org.

SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association