Celebrating START nurses all year long

National Nurses Week was celebrated in May, but a local nonprofit that provides support those experiencing domestic or sexual violence thinks the acknowledgment should run all year long.

The nurses who work with HAVEN have special challenges in their “second” jobs, as there are few experiences as traumatic as sexual assault and rape.

The START (Safe Therapeutic Assault Response Team) for HAVEN is made up of forensic nurses, physician's assistants, and HAVEN advocates who are on call 24 hours a day to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to the victims of sexual assault. The nurses are specially trained registered nurses and physicians assistants who perform medical forensic examinations of adolescent and adult victims of acute sexual assault. They collect evidence from suspects in police custody and work with victims. They will also testify in court.

START nurses and staff assist any victim of sexual assault, 13 years or older, who report the crime within 96 hours of its occurrence. They examine both males and females and provide evidence collection from both victims and suspects.

The START site in Royal Oak is where sexual assault survivors are met by both an advocate and nurse. There, survivors receive both emotional support and therapeutic medical care in a safe environment. This care includes medical attention, a detailed forensic exam and medication as needed.

HAVEN began the START program in 2002. Meet two the 11 nurses employed with the program:

Jeanine Jacopec of Davisburg is the Nurse Manager for the Emergency and Urgent Care Center for Doctor’s Hospital of Michigan in Pontiac. She is an RN and holds a BSN. When Jacopec responds to a START call at any hour, she leaves at home her husband of 15 years and three boys, the youngest of whom is five. She continues to work after six yeas at START because of the investigation part of the job and also because as an Emergency Nurse, she wants to be there for her patients who have had a traumatic life experience.

Christine Hotra of Troy has been with START since 2003. She also is an RN and holds a BSN in addition to certifications in Forensic Investigation, Legal Nurse Consultant, Medical Investigation and Homeland Security, SANE-A (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for Adults and Adolescents) and Death Investigation. Hotra understands that the nurse examiner is in a unique position to listen to the patients and support them during a stressful time. She appreciates that her position allows her to help the patient by assessing injuries and helping to obtain the evidence for investigation and prosecution. Most importantly, she values helping the patient regain a sense of control.

To learn more about HAVEN, visit haven-oakland.org