Meet Kacie Parrish, One of Arkansas's Top 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40

Taylor McKinney

An interview with Kacie Parrish, a rising leader of NWA Forensic Nurse Team

Forensic professionals play a critical role in victim advocacy organizations like the NWA Center for Sexual Assault. And for forensic nurses, specifically sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs), this role extends far beyond normal business hours, inclement weather, or county lines. Holidays, weekends, the earliest hours of the morning—SANEs are ready at a moment's notice to assist survivors following some of the most traumatic events of their lives.


Given the tough line of work, it's no secret that forensic nursing can be one of the most challenging careers in the public sector, but the meaning and value that's derived from helping those in need makes this one of the most impactful ways to serve the community.


At the NWA Center for Sexual Assault, we're honored to work alongside the incredible nurses at NWA Forensic Nurse Team. Simply put, we couldn't make the impact we do without the aid of their SANE services.


Recently, Arkansas Center for Nursing named Kacie Parrish as one of the state's Top 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40. Honorees demonstrated a commitment to excellence, service and outreach, leadership, and contributions to the advancement of nursing as a profession.


We had the pleasure of connecting with Kacie to find out more about the work she does in forensic nursing, her professional associations, and her personal background—and we're honored to share the interview with our readers.


If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a forensic nurse or want to learn more about it as a career path, read on for an insider's look at forensic nursing, as told by one of Arkansas's rising nursing leaders: Kacie Parrish.


Interview with Kacie Parrish

1. Hi, Kacie. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions and share more about yourself. Can you tell us a little about your education and background, as well as the other organizations and associations you're a part of?


Kacie: Hi there! I have my Bachelor’s degree as a nurse and I am currently working on a Masters degree in Forensic Nursing. I took 80 hours of classroom training to start working as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and have achieved my SANE-A and SANE-P national certifications. I am the President of the emerging Arkansas Forensic Nurses Association, which is a group that provides education, community, and standardized practice recommendations to nurses who see and treat victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence in Arkansas. I also work closely with the UAMS teleSANE program to provide educational opportunities to forensic nurses in Arkansas and ultimately improves patient care to victims of assault.


2. You certainly have a full plate on top of your day-to-day work with survivors. What inspired you to get into forensic nursing?


Kacie: I really fell into forensic nursing by accident. I had thought that I would end up doing mission or humanitarian type work internationally, but when it started looking like I would be staying in the United States, I started asking people how nursing could meet that type of work here locally. It was recommended that I look into the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County, so I reached out and asked for a meeting to talk about the work that they did. Well, some wires were crossed and I showed up to a job interview and had a job offer by the end of the day. Until that day, I had never heard of sexual assault nursing or forensic nursing, but I couldn’t see myself ever doing anything else!


3. I love serendipitous discoveries like yours—it almost sounds like it was meant to be with how quickly everything fell into place for you. Knowing what you know now, what do you find most challenging about the work you do?


Kacie: One of the very challenging parts of this work is that it can be isolating. People don’t really like talking about this line of work and when someone asks what you do for work the conversation becomes quite somber. There aren’t a lot of people other than your coworkers who you can debrief difficult work related things with.


4. I understand. We have similar challenges on the advocate side. Are there any moments in your career—big or small—that stand out as special to you or particularly gratifying?


Kacie: There are a couple of things that come to mind here. First, I think of a couple of patients that I have worked with and their stories and obvious relief and calmer demeanor after their exam means so much to me. Next is the creation of the position that I currently have. When I started, each center had one full-time nurse who did their best to cover all of the medical needs for that center. Since the centers have decided to collaborate, the forensic team has grown exponentially and become a model for the state.


5. It’s amazing that it’s gaining so much traction and that awareness for forensic nursing work is leading to growth and more opportunities. What advice do you have for those interested in becoming forensic nurses?


Kacie: Just start asking questions and pursuing it. Forensic nursing takes self-motivation. You have a lot of responsibility for your education and experiences, but the resources are out there and we need you! Forensic nurses do such a variety of things from sexual assault to death investigation, and the field just keeps growing.


6. Speaking of self-motivation, what keeps you motivated after a challenging week—how do you step back and recharge?


Kacie: Animals and farm work seem to be my form of therapy—and making sure I participate in self-care. I have gathered a flock of chickens, a herd of dairy goats, horses, rabbits, cats, and dogs, in addition to my two toddlers. Recharging is working on farm projects and spending time with the animals and my family.


7. Spending time with animals and children are great channels for therapy. Is there anything you want to share with survivors who might be reading this and considering their own path to healing?


Kacie: Keep going. Keep trying and doing what you need to do to survive. If you couldn’t make the decision you wanted to make today, you can try again tomorrow. We are here for you. If you had a bad experience with medical care after your assault, just know that there are people working diligently to make sure those experiences don’t happen anymore.


You matter, and your story matters!


Please join us in celebrating Kacie's achievement and the important work she does in furthering the forensic nursing profession. We are so proud of Kacie, and we're honored to work alongside her in serving survivors of sexual assault.


If you have any industry-related questions for Kacie, you can reach her at: kacie@nwaforensics.com.


For inquiries about our services, you can email us at: info@nwasexualassault.org or call our office at: 479-347-2304.


If you are a victim of sexual assault and need help, please call our 24-hour crisis hotline at: 1-800-794-4175. Remember: you are not alone. We're here for you.

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