Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

The Department of Public Health (DPH) seeks a caring and compassionate Nurse Practitioner to join a multi-disciplinary team at the Barnstable County Children's Cove Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), located in Barnstable, MA. DPH will provide the chosen candidate with on-the-job training to become a certified MA Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Pedi SANE) Nurse Practitioner. The chosen Nurse Practitioner candidate will learn that a trauma-informed patient interaction may provide a protective factor following an Adverse Childhood Event (ACE), such as sexual abuse/assault, and will use such knowledge to inform patient care encounters with children and families.

Ideal candidates will be committed to joining with the SANE Program to improve the quality of life for all Commonwealth residents while eliminating the inequities that impact the lives of people of color and persons with disabilities, who are disproportionately affected by sexual violence. The ideal Nurse Practitioner candidate will acknowledge the history of structural racism in the U.S. and its impact on health outcomes, as well as its role in the perpetration of sexual violence.

Grounded in a "do no harm" philosophy of care, the chosen Nurse Practitioner candidate will provide comprehensive nursing care which may include but not be limited to completion of a forensic examination with forensic evidence collection, and screening, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI) as needed. The ideal Nurse Practitioner candidate will provide care that is developmentally appropriate to children, teens, and their families, and will serve as part of the CAC's multidisciplinary team in response to concerns of child sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation. Additional responsibilities include providing psycho-social support, teaching, health promotion, anticipatory guidance, and linkages to the child's primary care provider. In addition, the Pedi SANE Nurse Practitioner will provide outreach and training to community partners.

Please Note: The chosen Nurse Practitioner candidate will be provided with on-the-job training at the Barnstable County Children's Cove CAC, along with e-learnings and webinars. Other forms of instruction may include clinical experience with child sexual abuse experts in hospitals and other CAC settings which provide Pediatric SANE services.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Provides overall direct patient care/consultation to pediatric patients (17 and younger) and their families when there are disclosures of sexual abuse and/or commercial sexual exploitation.
• Provides direct clinical care for children who have been sexually abused or exploited including, as indicated, pregnancy screening; sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing; etc.
• Conducts physical examinations and utilizes photo-documentation equipment and the MA Pediatric Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit (MA Pedi Kit) as appropriate; maintains all patient records/images created, in the course of care, in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Completes comprehensive documentation of child abuse examinations using the Pediatric SANE Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and other appropriate documents.
• Collaborates with program medical experts and other members of the multidisciplinary team in forensic interviews and case reviews, ensuring that the child's health and medical needs are addressed.
• Assists in the development of a plan of care for the patient which meets their medicolegal, medical, emotional, and social needs.
• Provides case oversight to ensure appropriate referral of a patient's care to community resources including physicians/clinicians, mental health providers, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and other support services.
• Delivers subject matter expertise and testimony in court proceedings as a fact witness, when needed, regarding the care rendered in the role of a Massachusetts Pediatric SANE Nurse Practitioner.
• Facilitates training/outreach to local hospitals, providers, school nurses, DCF and other community partners regarding trauma-informed, evidence-based practices in the care of children who are sexually abused.
• Collaborates with other Pedi SANE Nurse Practitioners, Pediatric Clinical Coordinator, Associate Director, and other program staff to advance Pediatric SANE practice and program initiatives.
• Participates in professional development opportunities and projects including data collection, research and telenursing activities as appropriate.
• Actively contributes to program initiatives that address racial equity and justice, social determinants of health, impact of Adverse Childhood Events (ACES) and demonstrates a commitment to meeting these goals in daily practice.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated nursing experience with child and adolescent patients, and knowledge of growth and development.
• Knowledge of evidence-based nursing practices and principles.
• Ability to provide culturally competent care, to work with patients of all abilities and in collaboration with diverse professionals.
• Capacity to maintain accurate records and exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Demonstrates a calm approach in stressful situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Passion and commitment to evidence-based practice and excellent clinical skills.
• Thoroughness, independence, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective relationships with individuals, families, providers, physicians, team members and the community.
• Comfortable with public speaking and facilitation of training, education and outreach to professionals and community partners.
• Capacity to resolve problems/conflicts in a diplomatic and tactful manner while demonstrating professionalism in all interactions.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office Products (additional support can be provided upon hire).

About the Children's Cove Children's Advocacy Center (CAC):

Children's Cove, the Cape and Islands Child Advocacy Center offers a comprehensive approach to serving child victims and their families. In 1997, members of the Barnstable County Task Force on Children; a collaboration with Cape Cod Healthcare, the Department of Children and Families, the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office and Barnstable County, identified that there was a need for specialized services for children who were victims of child abuse. Seeing no agencies in our Cape & Island community that provided the specialized supports and services needed, they created Barnstable County's first Child Advocacy Center to work in partnership to provide a comprehensive multidisciplinary response to child sexual abuse cases.

Children's Cove provides a compassionate, efficient, child-friendly facility for child abuse intervention. Our staff facilitate a streamlined process which reduces the chances that the children are retraumatized and preserves the best evidence for investigators. Our staff help facilitate the collaboration of social and legal agencies to protect children and take the first steps toward healing.

Website information: childrenscove.org

Website information MA Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program

 Website information
 MA Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program - (DPH Bureau of Community Health and Prevention)

About the Department of Public Health:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.
 
We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious diseases, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
 
DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offers services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

More information can be found at: MA Department of Public Health

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the  ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form 

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4.

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements
 

Applicants must have at least 4 years of experience as a Registered Nurse with practice in Pediatrics, Adolescent, Family Health, School Health, Women's Health, Forensic Nursing, or other related clinical specialty.

Applicants must have a graduate degree as a Nurse Practitioner in Pediatrics, Adolescent, Family Health, School Health, Women's Health, Forensic Nursing or another related Nurse Practitioner specialty.

Applicants at this level in this series will be required to complete MDPH Pediatric SANE certification within 1 year of employment.

Following initial MDPH Pediatric SANE certification, incumbents must maintain current and valid MDPH Pediatric SANE Certification.

Incumbents are required to have a current and valid Motor Vehicle Driver's License at a Class level specific to assignment.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.