Advice on how nursing staff can prioritise the physical and emotional safety of patients who have experienced trauma, and meet their needs with compassion, kindness and empathy. This trauma-informed approach to care recognises how an experience such as rape or sexual assault affects the individual’s nursing needs. The article author, a sexual assault response coordination service nurse team lead, advises nursing students on the importance of empathetic and compassionate communication. She offers tips on anticipating patients’ likely emotional triggers; she emphasises the importance of only proceeding with informed consent at every stage of a nursing intervention, ensuring the patient knows what to expect and feels in control.