NATIONAL NURSES WEEK: A MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF

May 8, 2014

Summary: In celebration of National Nurses Week, we would like to recognize all nurses for the pivotal role they play in our society; especially those special nurses who care for victims of sexual assault. 

For brief historical context, National Nurses Week started as a concept developed in 1953 to establish a ‘Nurses Day’ to mark the contributions that nurses’ make to our society, though it took 50 years to establish Nurses Week in its current form.  This year, National Nurses Week is from May 6 to May 12, and their theme is “Nurses: A Force for Change – A vital resource for health.”

All nurses deserve our gratitude for the many hours they are on the job keeping us healthy.  In our practice area, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) stand above with the delicate care they provide to victims of sexual assault.  A SANE provides expertise in physical assessments, forensic examination, and emotional and physical support for the victim, so that they may begin healing.  Lastly, a SANE can provide testimony in legal proceedings, and provide admissible evidence in court.

Yet for all the vital work that a SANE performs, it cannot be done alone; assistance from and collaboration with advocates, law enforcement, and legal professionals is necessary to provide this crucial medical capability for sexual assault victims.  With the collaboration from law enforcement, advocates and legal professionals, the SANE plays a pivotal role in holding molesters and institutions accountable for failing to provide a safe environment for the victim.

Nurses from all areas of medicine deserve our sincerest gratitude for the hard work, long hours, and crucial service they provide to our society.

Thank you nurses,

Steve Estey and Mike Bomberger
Estey & Bomberger, LLP