OMAHA- Nebraska Medicine is expanding its corps of nurses specially trained to care for sexual assault victims and collect evidence — if patients consent — for potential prosecution.

The program used to have 11 employed examiners, that number recently increased to 18 with a goal of 30 in the near future.

Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, the program’s medical director said, “It’s been in the works for a while, but now we have a lot of momentum, so it’s exciting.”

These special nurses are trained to be able to provide both care and emotional support, as well as provide insight into their reporting options.

If patients consent, the nurses also collect evidence for potential prosecutions, including taking photographs and conducting an interview. If the person who was assaulted chooses that option, the information must be collected in a standardized way in order to be admitted in court.

Since the program began, more and more people have approached Nebraska Medicine for the service, sparking growth.

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