THE PROGRAM WAS BEGUN IN JULY 1972 AS A VOLUNTARY COLLABORATION BETWEEN BOSTON COLLEGE SCHOOL OF NURSING AND THE BOSTON CITY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE AND A SOCIOLOGIST STAFF THE PROGRAM. RAPE VICTIMS ENTERING THE EMERGENCY ROOM ARE SEEN BY A TRIAGE NURSE, WHO CONTACTS A GYNECOLOGIST AND BOTH PROGRAM COUNSELORS. THE COUNSELORS TALK WITH THE VICTIM, WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ACCOMPANIED THE VICTIM TO THE HOSPITAL, AND WITH THE POLICE IN ORDER TO GATHER DATA FOR ASSESSING THE CRISIS. WITHIN 2 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE NURSE-COUNSELOR TELEPHONES THE VICTIM TO DETERMINE HER PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL STATE. WEEKLY CALLS CONTINUE UNTIL THE CRISIS STATE STABILIZES. THE PROGRAM'S EXPERIENCE WITH OVER 80 RAPE VICTIMS HAS MAJOR IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT. FOR MOST VICTIMS, RAPE REPRESENTED A CRISIS WITH EITHER PSYCHOLOGICAL OR SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES. MOST VICTIMS RESPONDED FAVORABLY TO THE PRESENCE OF THE COUNSELORS AND TO THE FOLLOWUP TELEPHONE CALLS. THE VICTIMS EXHIBITED A WIDE RANGE OF RESPONSES AND VERBAL AND EMOTIONAL STYLES. HOWEVER, THE PRIMARY REACTION TO RAPE WAS FEAR, I.E., FEAR FOR ONE'S LIFE. THE NURSE CAN HELP TO MAKE THE RAPE VICTIM'S HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE LESS TRAUMATIC BY EDUCATING HER COLLEAGUES, BY SIMPLY BEING WITH AND LISTENING TO THE VICTIM, BY PREPARING THE VICTIM FOR THE PELVIC EXAMINATION, BY EXPLAINING PRESCRIBED MEDICAL TREATMENTS, AND BY PROVIDING FOR THE VICTIM'S PHYSICAL COMFORT. IT IS VITAL THAT ALL NURSES -- NOT ONLY PSYCHIATRIC NURSES AND NURSE CLINICIANS -- POSSESS THE COUNSELING SKILLS NEEDED TO ASSIST RAPE VICTIMS.