BABE #341: LAURA CLARY - SAFE & DV Clinical Program Manager, GBMC
Laura has always been fascinated by the medical industry. Today—in addition to being a mom of two littles—she’s a forensic nurse examiner and clinical program manager of the GBMC Sexual Assault Forensic Examination & Domestic Violence Program. Her work is difficult, specialized and extremely important. Since taking over the SAFE & DV Program, Laura has incorporated pivotal processes and procedures that showcase not only her dedication to her work, but her passion for lending a genuine, helping hand to those who need our care most.
The Basics:
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Current city: Baltimore, Maryland
Alma mater: CCBC School of Health Professions; American Sentinel University
Degree: B.S., Nursing
Very first job: Rita’s Italian Ice
Hustle: Forensic Nurse Examiner & Clinical Program Manager, GBMC Sexual Assault Forensic Examination & Domestic Violence Program
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
My mother manages to keep everything in order and is the backbone of our family. She is kind, compassionate, loving and sincere and has always been my biggest supporter, my cheerleader and has pushed me to follow my dreams. When things get chaotic or I need someone to listen, I know I can always turn to my mom.
How do you spend your free time?
I enjoy spending my free time with family and friends, lounging by the pool, sipping wine by the firepit, or curled up on the couch binge-watching Netflix and 80s movies.
Favorite fictional female character? Why?
FBI Agent Clarice Starling from “The Silence of the Lambs.” She is smart, persistent, brave, and everyone underestimated her. Her character is described as “a young woman fighting her way through a male-dominated ecosystem to save the life of another young woman.”
Go-to coffee order and/or adult beverage?
My coffee order is pretty boring, but I enjoy a (big) glass of 19 Crimes Red Blend in the evening or a hot toddy (Vanilla Chamomile tea, honey and a shot of Quiet Man whiskey).
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I would say my love for bad reality TV. I could literally watch it for hours.
What would you eat for your very last meal?
I am a Baltimore girl through and through, so I would probably have Maryland steamed crabs, corn, and fried chicken.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
As the GBMC SAFE & DV Clinical Program Manager, my responsibilities include administration, recruitment, training, and retention of forensic nurse examiners to care for victims of rape, sexual assault, child abuse, and intimate partner violence. I collaborate with the Emergency and Pediatric department medical directors to ensure protocols meet current clinical and forensic recommendations, track and trend utilization data to enhance program outcomes, and serve as a resource and mentor regarding current practice for the nurses I currently oversee, as well as for other SAFE programs in the region. When directly working with victims, I provide crisis management, medical-forensic assessment, evaluation, documentation and photographing of injuries and collection of forensic evidence for pediatric/adolescent/adult patients reporting sexual assault, sexual abuse, human trafficking, or domestic violence. I administer prophylactic medications and emergency contraception according to national protocols to ensure the health and wellbeing of my patient. On the back end, I collaborate with law enforcement, social work, and victim advocates. I work closely with crime lab technicians to ensure evidentiary chain of custody is followed, and the evidence I collect is able to be tested. I always say that I follow my patient from the hospital to the courtroom, which may be years later. At that point I take the stand to provide expert testimony in court proceedings.
What does your typical workday look like?
I never really know what to expect when I head in to work. My typical day includes ensuring there is 24/7 coverage of forensic nurses and advocates for victims that present to the hospital. Aside from administrative duties, everything comes to a halt if a victim comes in. That victim, my patient, becomes my number one priority. I am a nurse, a patient advocate with the job of ensuring that my patient is safe, comfortable, and attended to promptly with a trauma-informed, patient-centered approach.
Tell us about your background in the medical field.
I have always loved the medical field, and actually have pictures of myself as a child in various medical related costumes on Halloween. I became a registered nurse in 2008, starting my career as a night shift emergency room nurse in a Baltimore City hospital. While assisting in the emergency treatment of a wide variety of medical- and trauma-related emergencies that an inner-city emergency department experiences, I encountered my first sexual assault victim. We did not provide sexual assault services in my ER, so we transferred her to a neighboring hospital that did. I found myself thinking about this patient, and wondering what the next hospital would do to take care of her. I ended up looking into forensic nursing programs and decided to take the class to become certified. In 2010, I was certified as a forensic nurse examiner and started working per diem shifts at GBMC. In 2014, I was promoted to manager of the GBMC SAFE program, and have been doing this work full-time since then. I truly have found my calling as a forensic nurse, and while the job is difficult, I love every minute of the work.
How did you work to expand the services offered at GBMC when you entered your role?
Upon taking over the program, there were only eight forensic nurses who cared for adult victims of sexual assault; I recognized this program should grow and expand to meet the needs of our community. I worked with the Board of Nursing to become an approved instructor for pediatric and adult forensic nursing certification courses, and now host two courses a year to increase staffing, at GBMC and throughout the region. Today, I currently manage a robust team of 20 forensic nurses. When the only other hospital in Baltimore County that provided pediatric SAFE services closed its doors unexpectedly, I knew we needed to do something so children had a place to go. Recognizing that children need specialized care, I pitched to hospital administration and leadership for support in building a child protection team (CPT). I worked closely with members of the SAFE team, and then collaborated with the pediatric department to write grants for funding. We now have a functioning CPT with child abuse social workers, child life specialists, numerous forensic nurses, and pediatricians. We also implemented a 24/7 forensic nursing response to include human trafficking. In addition to my passion for forensic nursing, I also recognize the importance of victim advocacy; we have a team of seven compassionate victim advocates who respond in to work alongside the forensic nurses. Since taking over in 2014, the program has quadrupled in volume, and we ensure two forensic nurses are always available so no victim ever must wait hours to be treated.
What’s been your biggest career milestone?
This year I worked closely with the Maryland Hospital Association and Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault to help get legislation passed for victim services. Currently in Maryland, all medical treatment related to a sexual assault is covered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention, with the exception being HIV Prophylaxis (NPEP). I saw how this impacted my patients, when they desperately needed a medication but could not afford it. I wrote letters of written testimony and encouraged members of my team to do the same to support Senate Bill 657. This bill would implement a three-year pilot program to provide NPEP navigators and funding for the medication when patients meet the CDC guidelines for initiating. In February and March this year, I headed to Annapolis to provide testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House of Delegates.
How has being a woman affected your professional experience?
I feel it’s much easier to gain a rapport with my patients as a woman. The majority of the patients I treat have been victimized by a man, and therefore specifically request female care providers. I feel very fortunate that the hospital I work for provides an equal and uplifting environment to work, as well as a safe space for all patients to seek treatment regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. All hospitals should strive to provide an inclusive environment for their employees as well as the patients seeking treatment.
How do you practice staying composed in such an emotionally charged profession?
People always ask me: “How do you do this work? It has to be so hard.” I always tell myself: "If I don’t do this, who else will? Who will take care of these patients who have been horribly victimized and taken advantage of?" I am passionate about my career as a forensic nurse and always remind myself that I am in this field because I truly love what I do. I know that my coworkers feel the same way. We are a close-knit group; I think we are more like a big crazy family. We know we can always rely on each other whenever it is needed—whether it is covering a shift, lending a shoulder to cry on, or simply babysitting for a night out. In addition, we know that downtime and our own mental health is important too. Vicarious trauma and burnout are very prevalent in the field of forensic nursing, but thankfully our team doesn’t seem to have that problem. Every few months, we try to plan something fun outside of the hospital setting, whether it be wine tastings, river tubing, or cookouts.
What is your approach to balancing the responsibilities of your job with your role as a mom?
Sometimes it’s tough to balance work and being a mom to two young children. I try to make myself very available to my team, so I never know when my phone may ring. Additionally, our doors never close at the hospital. I have missed holidays, sports games, and family gatherings because I was needed at the hospital to care for a patient. I often get called and have to leave in the middle of the night when the rest of the family is sleeping. Thankfully, I have been doing this work well before my kids were born, so this is really all they know. Additionally, I have some amazing senior forensic nurses who are able to cover administrative and clinical duties when I truly need to disconnect or get away for a few days.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Never stop learning. Things are always changing and there is always something new to be learned. And take time for yourself—you aren't any good to anyone if you are burned out. You can’t take care of others unless you take care of yourself first.
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