Welcome to the Team: Vicki Bice, PNP
December 18, 2024
The team at Children’s Cove is pleased to welcome our new Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), Vicki Bice. In October Vicki was hired by The Massachusetts Department of Public Health to train and serve as the region’s PediSANE. Vicki will undergo several months of on-site facilitated training and observation as part of the onboarding process at Children’s Cove.
As the Child Advocacy Center for the Cape and Islands, Children’s Cove coordinates the multidisciplinary response to child victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, witness to domestic violence, and commercial sexual exploitation. This includes an investigative component, as well as coordination of community-based services, mental health referrals, and medical care. The specially trained Pediatric SANE nurse provides expert medical care, including the ability to provide or coordinate a medical forensic examination.
After a child has made the brave choice to disclose their abuse, there is often the question, “Is my body ok?”. The PediSANE plays a crucial role in providing reassurance for a child, while attending to discoveries that could aid an investigation. The position is further designed to:
- Provide an onsite visual medical exam in a child-friendly setting
- Ensure the health and safety of child through a non-invasive exam “using a do no harm approach”
- Identify, educate and provide referrals for instances of Sexually Transmitted Infections and/or pregnancy
- To photo-document and collect evidence if indicated.
- Support the child in their wellness.
During the exam, the PediSANE does not:
- Use any invasive tools
- Cause any pain
- Interview the child
- Speculate if anything did or did not happen
All medical exams are completed privately on site and with parental permission. Our PediSANE can act as a liaison and consultant to the child’s pediatrician as well.
Vicki Bice holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Colorado and is certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She has previously served as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Bramblebush Pediatrics in Falmouth, MA., as well as for Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Penn. Vicki’s experience also includes serving as a contracted medical staff member for the United States Air Force in various locations.
Children’s Cove is both happy and fortunate to have Vicki join our team and look forward to her working with other medical providers across our community toward the health and wellness of children receiving support.
