Best-Practice Recommendations for the Care of Male Sexual Assault Survivors

Abstract

This project is designed to create best practices regarding therapeutic communication with male survivors of sexual assault. Specific strategies included promote psychological recovery, current nursing education and practices, and gender identity reinforcement. Several studies indicate that male sexual assault survivors do not seek psychological assistance after being attacked and so, many reported a difficult recovery. Much of the focus of post-sexual assault nursing is on female survivors, as the occurrences of sexual assault against females are more frequent than those against males. The body of knowledge on male survivors is smaller, consequently decreasing nursing knowledge about caring for this population. Increasing the knowledge base to create more holistic and supportive communication techniques will be beneficial to the recovery of male sexual assault patients. The best-practice recommendations focus on reaffirming gender identity, validating survivors' situations, removing nursing bias, and connecting male survivors to resources that support them. These recommendations would theoretically be implemented as a pilot study. The recommendations would be presented in a 30-minute information session to the nursing staff of a student health clinic. Additionally, a theoretical educational flyer focusing on the same strategies will be created for the nursing staff.