04/25/2026
More than 19,000 people in Maine are sexually assaulted each year, and one in five Mainers will experience sexual violence in their lifetimes. In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Mercy is highlighting the vital role of skilled, compassionate healthcare providers who have special training to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed care to females and males affected by sexual assault and violence.
Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) nurses perform person-centered forensic examinations and provide education, support, medication counseling, and connections to community resources. SAFE nurses may also serve as expert court witnesses. To become SAFE-trained, nurses must complete extensive training overseen by the Office of Child and Family Services, part of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Hillary Bachelder, RN, a nurse who works in the Emergency Department at Mercy Hospital, holds the SAFE credential. She chose to become credentialed when, after an experience with a patient, she decided she needed more training to provide the sensitive, timely care that she felt the patient deserved.
“A patient had to sit and wait for a SAFE nurse to be available, and I just remember how traumatic it was for her,” she says. “It was at that point that I realized that I should have this training, so this situation is less likely to happen again. It has really made a difference, and it continues to benefit our patients. In just the last month we have had three cases here.”
Bachelder says that some individuals may be hesitant to seek treatment, but she emphasizes that care is always provided on the patient’s own terms. Patients decide what kind of care they receive, when to stop receiving care, and whether to go law enforcement. If a patient is unsure about reporting at the time of the exam, they have the option to have evidence collected and stored anonymously for 20 years.
“The first thing I do with my patient is put myself on their level,” she says. “I sit down next to them; I take my name badge off. Sometimes it’s a matter of holding their hand and validating that they're hurting. We are here as medical professionals, but we're also here to support them as humans. If they do not want to report right away, by collecting evidence, even anonymously, we give them that power and control for the day when they may be ready.”
Three Mercy Hospital nurses are SAFE credentialed, four others have completed SAFE training, and several others are planning to become trained in the future.
Thank you for all that you do for our patients and community!
