WHEN A RAPE VICTIM ENTERS A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM SHE ENCOUNTERS NURSES, WARD CLERKS, ORDERLIES, PHYSICIANS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS -- ALL OF WHOM HAVE THEIR OWN BELIEFS AND FEELINGS ABOUT RAPE. OFTEN THE SURFACING AND EXPRESSION OF STAFF ATTITUDES DURING TREATMENT RESULTS IN FURTHER TRAUMA FOR THE VICTIM, WHO MAY HAVE TO CONTEND WITH DISBELIEF, CURIOSITY, MORALIZING, AND EVEN A ROUGH PELVIC EXAMINATION. DESPITE THE PROBLEMS THAT CAN EXIST IN STAFF TREATMENT OF RAPE VICTIMS, THE EMERGENCY ROOM HAS ADVANTAGES AND POTENTIAL FOR HELPING THESE PATIENTS. THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO HELP RAPE VICTIMS ARE CENTRALIZED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE, WHO CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL IN CRISIS INTERVENTION, IS PRESENT AND CAN OFFER IMMEDIATE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING TO THE RAPE VICTIM, ASSESSING THE CRISIS EVENT AND THE VICTIM'S COPING ABILITY IN ORDER TO INTERVENE EFFECTIVELY. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO ORIENT STUDENTS IN PROFESSIONAL FIELDS TO THE PROBLEM OF RAPE. WELL-DEFINED, COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY ROOM PROGRAMS FOR RAPE VICTIMS ARE NEEDED, WITH EMPHASIS ON INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMWORK AND FOLLOWUP. PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED TO DISPEL SOCIETAL MYTHS ABOUT RAPE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.