A young woman arrives at the emergency department and states that she thinks she has been raped.She is sobbing and expresses disbelief that this could happen because the man was her best friend.In an effort to calm the client in order to perform a thorough assessment and physical examination,the nurse acknowledges the client's fear and anxiety and tells her:

Question

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Acquaintance rape involves individuals who know one another.Sexual assault occurs when the trust of a relationship is violated.Victims may be less prone to recognize what is happening to them because the dynamics are different from those of stranger rape.It is not at all unusual for the victim to know and trust the perpetrator.Stating that the woman might have led the man to attack her indicates that the sexual assault was somehow the victim's fault.This type of mentality is not constructive.Nurses must first reflect on their own feelings and learn to be unbiased when dealing with victims.A statement of this type can be very psychologically damaging to the victim.Nurses must display compassion by first believing what the victim states.The nurse is not responsible for deciphering the facts involving the victim's claim.

A Young Woman Arrives at the Emergency Department and States