Oregon
How a lack of sexual assault nurse examiners is affecting Oregon’s North Coast
A file photograph of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. There aren’t any licensed sexual assault nurse examiners primarily based in Astoria. For many who select to report their assault, this scarcity of specialised nurses means survivors should journey to Portland for an examination.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
There aren’t any licensed sexual assault nurse examiners primarily based on Oregon’s North Coast. At present, there’s one licensed nurse who is predicated in Portland and works intermittently in Astoria. This implies for individuals who select to report their assault, they are going to possible have to journey to Portland for an examination when this nurse is unavailable. Survivors are sometimes advised to attend for a number of hours till a licensed nurse is accessible and are additionally instructed to not bathe or change garments throughout this ready interval, discouraging many from persevering with the method. Abbey McDonald is a reporter for The Astorian. She joins us to share extra on her reporting and the way the shortage of those specialised nurses are affecting Oregon’s North Coast.
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