Maine ENA Newsletter Archive

President's Corner

Barry Worthing, RN

Maine Medical Center

Greetings to all! I’ve just come in from a hike on Bald Mountain with my daughter, with enough time to write a quick message. It is a busy time for all of us for many reasons. For many of us, it is the time of year when our population and census swells, creating many challenges. As well, we all try to make the best of this short season by getting outside every chance we can.

In April many of us attended the NERS in New Hampshire. The biggest news to come from NERS is the winning of stretcher races by a Maine team consisting of myself, and Lori Crowley (MMC). There was also a strong showing by Karen Taylor and Barbara Senko, also from Maine.

Upcoming in Maine ENA will be elections for Secretary/Treasurer and one Board position. Please keep your eyes open for your ballot and vote early. Maine will be sending 5 delegates to the General Assembly in San Antonio, TX. All of the proposed amendments for General Assembly will be discussed at our Maine Annual Meeting to be held September 8, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. This is an opportunity to have your input on national topics. Those present at the annual meeting vote on the issues and tell our delegates how they should vote at General Assembly.

That’s all I have for this issue. Just a quick break from a busy summer; take care and be safe. Hope to see you at the Annual Meeting.

Barry Worthing, RN
President

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Maine Delegates to Attend National ENA Meeting

Five Delegates from Maine ENA will be attending the National ENA meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

The five will attend the General Assembly September 13th & 14th. The Scientific Assembly follows on September 14-16.

The five delegates are:

• Barry Worthing
• Carol Minnis
• Carmen Hetherington
• Sandie Weagle
• Carol Grant

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Maine ENA Educational Scholarship

Maine ENA will be offering a yearly educational scholarship in the amount of $250.00 for certification or re-certification of CEN, ENPC, TNCC or another ENA sponsored course on an annual basis to one individual. It will be awarded at the Annual MENA Meeting in September.

Requirements: ENA member and worked in the ED for the past year.

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ENPC

ENPC Courses

• October 5, 2006
• October 6, 2006

Note: These classes are filled. Watch for more ENPC dates.

Central Maine Medical Center. Lewiston

ENPC instructor Courses

Two classes: Dates to be announced

Central Maine Medical Center. Lewiston

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TNCC

August

• St. Joseph’s in Bangor
• 4 classes at CMMC

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Government Affairs

Government Affairs Committee
Pam Poisson, RN
CHAPTER 538

H.P. 1313 - L.D. 1873

An Act Regarding Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 24 MRSA §2986, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 719, §2 and affected by §11, is amended to read:

3. Completed kit. If the alleged victim has not reported the alleged offense to a law enforcement agency when the examination is complete, the hospital or health care practitioner shall then notify the nearest law enforcement agency, which shall transport and store the completed forensic examination kit for at least 90 days. The completed kit may be identified only by the tracking number. If during that 90-day period an alleged victim decides to report the alleged offense to a law enforcement agency, the alleged victim may contact the hospital or health care practitioner to determine the tracking number. The hospital or health care practitioner shall provide the alleged victim with the tracking number on the forensic examination kit and shall inform the alleged victim which law enforcement agency is storing the kit.

If the alleged victim reports the alleged offense to a law enforcement agency by the time the examination is complete, the investigating law enforcement agency shall transport the forensic examination kit directly to the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory.

If an examination is performed under subsection 5 and the alleged victim does not, within 60 days, regain a state of consciousness adequate to decide whether or not to report the alleged offense, the State may file a motion in the District Court relating to storing or processing the forensic examination kit. Upon finding good cause and after considering factors, including, but not limited to, the possible benefits to public safety in processing the kit and the likelihood of the alleged victim\'s regaining a state of consciousness adequate to decide whether or not to report the alleged offense in a reasonable time, the District Court may order either that the kit be stored for additional time or that the kit be transported to the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory for processing, or such other disposition that the court determines just. In the interests of justice or upon motion by the State, the District Court may conduct hearings required under this paragraph confidentially and in camera and may impound pleadings and other records related to them.

Sec. 2. 24 MRSA §2986, sub-§§5 and 6 are enacted to read:

5. Implied consent. If an alleged victim of gross sexual assault is unconscious and a reasonable person would conclude that exigent circumstances justify conducting a forensic examination, a licensed hospital or licensed health care practitioner may perform an examination in accordance with the provisions of this section.

A forensic examination kit completed in accordance with this subsection must be treated in accordance with Title 25, section 3821 and must preserve the alleged victim\'s anonymity. In addition, the law enforcement agency shall immediately report to the district attorney for the district in which the hospital or health care practitioner is located that such a forensic examination has been performed and a forensic examination kit has been completed under this subsection.

6. Liability. A licensed hospital or licensed health care practitioner in the exercise of due care is not liable for an act done or omitted in performing a sexual assault forensic examination under this section.

Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §3821, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 719, §4 and affected by §11, is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:

In the case of a forensic examination performed under Title 24, section 2986, subsection 5, the law enforcement agency must immediately notify the district attorney for the district in which the hospital or health care practitioner is located that such a forensic examination has been performed and a forensic examination kit has been completed under Title 24, section 2986, subsection 5.

State of Maine
Office of the Attorney General

To: Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners, SAFE-in-Training, Emergency Department Medical Directors and Nurse Managers, Maine Prosecutors Association, Maine Hospital Association, Maine State Nurses Association, Maine Emergency Nurses Association, Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault

From: Polly Campbell, Director Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Program

Melissa Reynolds O’Dea, Assistant Attorney General Chair, Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Advisory Board

Date: July 10, 2006

Subject: Collection of Forensic Evidence from an Unconscious Patient

This memo is to inform you of a new law that goes into effect on August 23, 2006, and to provide you with a copy of the law. Following are some of its highpoints that relate to hospitals and health care practitioners:

• If an unconscious patient presents as a possible victim of a sexual assault, a licensed hospital or health care provider may perform a sexual assault medical/forensic examination without the patient’s consent if it is reasonable to believe that evidence would be lost or destroyed if the examination were not conducted immediately. The provider should document in the medical record the findings that form the basis for believing that the patient was possibly sexually assaulted.
• The examiner/health care provider must handle the sex crimes kit in such a way as to preserve the patient’s anonymity.
• If a patient does not regain consciousness within 60 days, there are certain procedures that law enforcement must follow to preserve the collected evidence.
• Hospitals and health care practitioners who perform sexual assault forensic examinations with due care and in accordance with the Maine Health Security Act are free from legal liability in performing those exams.

If there are any questions please contact either Polly Campbell (626-8806) or Melissa Reynolds O’Dea (626-8552).

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Maine ENA Nurse Wins Karen O’Neil Award

Karen Taylor, RN, CEN an active Maine ENA member and nurse at Maine Medical Center’s Emergency Department, recently won the Karen O’Neil Award at the New England Regional Symposium in New Hampshire.

Her peer’s at Maine Medical Center nominated Karen. Some of the attributes that enabled her to win the award were he dedication to emergency nursing, and her mentoring and encouragement of new nurses and staff.

Maine ENA congratulates Karen for being selected the 2006 winner of this prestigious award.

Thank you to New Hampshire ENA for hosting this year’s NERS in North Conway.

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Notice: ENPC Course Directors

There are two new ENPC instructors who need to be verified. Please notify a chairperson if you are scheduling a class, so this may be completed for them.

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Nurse Practice Committee

Surveys went out to all Emergency Departments on IV starting techniques and pain control.

Please take a few minutes to fill these out and return them to Tammy Lachance, RN at CMMC, Lewiston.

The results of the survey will be posted in the Fall newsletter.

Also, congratulations to Tammy for her new chairperson position on the State Trauma Advisory Board.

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The Next Maine ENA Board Meeting is July 13th, 200

MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Please contact any Board Member or Committee Chair for directions. Everyone is welcome!

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CEN Review Questions

From CEN Review by Renee Simonin Holleran

1. The most common cause of kidney stones is:
   1. Oxalate
   2. Magnesium Ammonium
   3. Uric acid
   4. Calcium Oxalate
2. When teaching the patient about diet related to the development of renal calculi, the emergency nurse should instruct the patient to avoid which of the following foods:
   1. Orange juice
   2. Red meat
   3. Spinach
   4. Walnuts
3. Which of the following may cause pseudohematuria?
   1. Phenytoin
   2. Metronidazole
   3. Rhubarb
   4. All of the above
4. A 22 year-old comes to the ED complaining of scrotal swelling and pain. Epididymitis is diagnosed. The organism that frequently causes epididymitis in sexually active males is:
   1. T. vaginalis
   2. Chlamydia trachoma
   3. Treponema pallidium
   4. E. coli
5. A sign of severe injury to the pelvis or bladder is:
   1. Coopernail’s sign
   2. Kehr’s sign
   3. Homan’s sign
   4. Chadwick’s sign

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CEN Review Answers

1. D: Calcium oxalate.

   Seventy-five percent of renal stones result from calcium oxalate.

2. C: Spinach.

   Renal stones may form from oxalates. Foods rich in oxalates include tea, cocoa, grapefruit juice, almonds, and greens.

3. D: All of the above.

   There are multiple factors that might cause pseudohematuria, including medications and foods. It is important for the emergency nurse to obtain a history of the patient’s diet and medications in relation to the hematuria.

4. B: Chlamydia trachoma

   The most common organism causing epididymitis in a sexually active male is Chlamydia trachoma. It may account for over two thirds of the cases of epididymitis.

5. A: Coopernail’s sign

   The emergency nurse should suspect the possibility of genitourinary trauma with the presence of Coopernail’s sign (ecchymosis of the labia or scrotum).

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Spring ENA Meeting & Education Day

On May 5th, Maine ENA held it’s Spring Meeting & Education Day in York, Maine and it was a great success.

It was held at the beautiful York Harbor Inn where the speakers, food, and facility were first class.

Donna Blaney Brouse, RN, BSN, MS, CNS pictured at right, was one of several speakers. She gave an interesting lecture on geriatric trauma.

Thank You to the York Emergency Nurses for planning the day!

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Upcoming Events ... Save the Dates!

Don’t miss out on great speakers and current topics! Watch for the brochures!

Maine ENA Annual Meeting & Education Day
September 8, 2006
Hilton Garden Inn, Auburn

Speakers:

• Jen Messinger on the special needs child
• Polly Campbell for SANE
• and back by popular demand, Steve Johnson, Esq. on legal issues.

We will also have one hour set aside for round table discussions and net working on such topics as:

• EN Care
• TNCC & ENPC
• Staffing recruitment and retention
• ED overcrowding.

Maine ENA Leadership Meeting
November 3, 2006
11:30-2:30
Muddy Rudder Restaurant, Brewer

Tentative topics:

• New Initiatives in Patient Safety
• Risk Management

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Emergency Departments Employment Opportunities

Maine General Medical Center, Waterville Campus

We are looking for nurses with a passion for Emergency Nursing!

We currently have several positions available to accommodate our newly renovated and expanding emergency department.

• Excellent Patient Satisfaction
• Collaborative Practice Between Nurses and Physicians
• New Behavioral Health Suite
• Future Electronic Record and State of The Art Equipment
• Competitive Salary and Benefits
• Great Opportunity for Personal and Professional Growth!
• State of Maine RN License Required
• ED Clinical Experience Preferred but We Are Willing to Train Exceptional Candidates

Call and Learn More About The Opportunities We Have To Offer!

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Maine ENA Newsletter Info

Carol Minnis, RN, CEN
Maine General Medical Center, Waterville

Maine ENA and I would appreciate any input to our newsletter. This would include:

• Nursing Stories
• Clinical Narratives, “The Work of Nursing”
• What’s going on at your hospital?
• Awards
• Tips and Solutions

Advertisement rates

• 1/4 page :$15.00
• 1/2 page :$30.00
• full page :$60.00

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