INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH-RELATED NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF RAPE VICTIMS HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE INCREASE IN SEXUAL ASSAULT. MEDICAL LITERATURE DEALS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE DETAILS OF THE MEDICAL-LEGAL EXAMINATION OF RAPE VICTIMS; NURSING LITERATURE ON THE SUBJECT IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT. RAPE IS A CRISIS SITUATION FOR THE VICTIM. MOST VICTIMS SEEK CARE AT HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS. EMERGENCY ROOM NURSES AND NURSES IN OTHER SETTINGS MUST FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE SCOPE AND SEVERITY OF THE RAPE VICTIM'S PROBLEMS. THE FIRST STEP IN CRISIS INTERVENTION BY THE NURSE INVOLVES HELPING THE VICTIM TO IDENTIFY WHAT SHE IS FEELING. WHEN THE VICTIM NAMES HER FEELING, THE CONFUSION CAUSED BY THE FEELING IS REMOVED AND ANXIETY IS REDUCED. MOST OF THE RAPE VICTIMS QUESTIONED FELT THAT THE NURSES THEY ENCOUNTERED HAD NOT RECOGNIZED THEIR NEED TO TALK AS WELL AS THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT PREGNANCY AND ABOUT HOW THEIR PARENTS, HUSBANDS, AND FRIENDS MIGHT REACT. MEDICAL CARE OF RAPE VICTIMS TENDS TO FOCUS ON PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND PROTECTION AGAINST VENEREAL DISEASE. NURSES SHOULD TALK TO RAPE VICTIMS ABOUT STEPS TO BE TAKEN WITH REGARD TO BOTH. NURSES SHOULD ALSO HELP TO ASSURE THAT VICTIMS RECEIVE ADEQUATE FOLLOWUP SERVICES, PERHAPS BY ARRANGING FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND BY CONTACTING VICTIMS AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED FROM THE EMERGENCY SETTING.