Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

Specialties Forensic

Published

Who else out there is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner? I have been doing this for about 6-8 months and just went through the week long core SANE training that was put on by a major hospital and several SANE programs in our area. We heard from the coroner, police detectives, state crime lab, and various other Nurse examiners. I'd like to hear from others and compare notes on your programs in your areas.

Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.

I am in my 6th year of SANE nursing and currently a member of a team of individuals developing a new SANE program for our area in PA. Currently, in the absence of A program in our county, the ER docs are performing the sexual assault exam. After September of this year however we will have SAFE's doing all of our exams! YAY!!!

Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.

I am in my 6th year of SANE nursing and currently a member of a team of individuals developing a new SANE program for our area in PA. Currently, in the absence of A program in our county, the ER docs are performing the sexual assault exam. After September of this year however we will have SAFE's doing all of our exams! YAY!!!

A couple more questions...are you guys doing your own exams, or are you having an ER doc do the exam. We heard it both ways at the conference and I'd just like to hear other views. We do our own exams, but if we question anything or think that they need to be seen by a doc for something medical, we have the ER doc take a look.

My understanding is that unless you are "on staff" as allied medical staff the doctor still has to see the patient for the medical screening exam (mse)(EMTALA) part. What happens at our rural hospital where I am the only SANE and on unofficial call 24/7, is that I come in and do the total exam using the state supplied kit. After that the doctor comes in to see the patient, reviews options re additional lab test, meds, morning after pills, and a quick mse and or course will care for wounds which require suturing or fractures, etc if needed. The patient has an oportunity to ask any questions and the doctors here are great. "Thank God your here" is often said when I arrive. Because the forensics are done by me the doctor doesn't get called in to court and there name is not on the forms which deal with the collection of evidence. As SANE we get more training in forensics and exams than the doctors get in med school, one of the doctors has said. In Maine we do not do the exams unless they are 15 years, although I come in for teens to do the evidence collection and assist the doctor with the pelvic exam. I saw 9 patients last year and 5 so far this year. As we know many are never reported and don't ever make it to the ED.

Specializes in ER!.

This is an area of nursing in which I've had a strong interest for some time. I live in a small town between Memphis and Nashville that does not have SANE. What would be the best way to find a training program? Are there any minimal requirements as far as education and/or years of experience? I'm at a point in my life at which I have the time and financial stability to pursue this, and any information would be appreciated.

Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.
This is an area of nursing in which I've had a strong interest for some time. I live in a small town between Memphis and Nashville that does not have SANE. What would be the best way to find a training program? Are there any minimal requirements as far as education and/or years of experience? I'm at a point in my life at which I have the time and financial stability to pursue this, and any information would be appreciated.

I think I would start with one of these websites:

http://www.sane-sart.com/

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/bulletins/sane_4_2001/welcome.html

SANE/SART programs are available in most states. The requirements for acceptance to the program varies from one program to another. Our requirements are 2 yrs of nursing, and the willingness to dedicate your time and efforts to the program. Our nurses sign a one year contract, provide their own and thats about it. good luck.

Specializes in ER.

I have worked at hospitals where we had SANE and some where the ER doc and nurse did the exam, collected evidence and went to court. As far as a SANE doing a "better" job than the MD, I say no question they do! The nurse is not diagnosing and treating a disease, she is collecting evidence, giving support and teaching that the MD probably does not have the time, the expertice or interest. I know when we have a rape come in the first thing we do is check the schedule and pray there is a SANE on call. If not, it really ties up the ER staff and I do not think we do an adequate job of caring for the victim. Unfortunately, ER staff are cynical a lot of time and may not give the compasion a real victim deserves. Thanks to all of you out there. You ARE appreciated by all I have ER staff and ER docs I have worked with. I would love to see a mandatory law that at SANE must be on call every where 24/7! That would be fine with me.

I was sexually assaulted in March and would have given my eye tooth for someone with special training and compassion. People were total jerks to me.

renerian

Sure wish you could have been brought somewhere that had SANE's available. Your law enforcement should know better, SHAME ON THEM!

New Jersey is relatively good as far as SANE nursing practice is concerned. We have a state mandated SANE/SART program. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Sexual Assault Response Team). The nurse works an independent contractor type position for the county. Most of us have regular nursing type jobs and submit "on-call" hours each month. This year NJ State Board of Nursing gave certification in forensic nursing, FN-CSA (Forensic Nurse-Certified Sexual Assault) which we all had to acquire in order to continue working as SANEs. The nurses I have met through the SANE program in Union County NJ are a wonderful group and I am proud to be one among them.

I work for a SART team in California, we are State trained and work closely with all aspects of criminology. All of our cases are taped and recorded. As far as treating patients, I am sorry to hear Rein had a bad experience, I always put myself in the shoes of the patient and treat them the way I would want to be treated. You get alot more out of a patient if they trust you and respect you.... showing compassion and concern is the first step to achieving it !!

I am very interested in becoming a SANE nurse and have had a really difficult time finding out where such trainings are held. Do you have any advice?

I am very interested in becoming a SANE nurse and have had a really difficult time finding out where such trainings are held. Do you have any advice?

For information about SANE programs in your state check out the IAFN website, they may be able to find out the information for you. You can also train in another state and become a pioneer getting a program started. Hopefully you will have the full support of your facitlity, if not shame on them! It's great that you would like to become an important person in someone's life who has been sexually assaulted.

Can a LVN be a S.A.N.E. or do you have to be a RN?

New Jersey is relatively good as far as SANE nursing practice is concerned. We have a state mandated SANE/SART program. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Sexual Assault Response Team). The nurse works an independent contractor type position for the county. Most of us have regular nursing type jobs and submit "on-call" hours each month. This year NJ State Board of Nursing gave certification in forensic nursing, FN-CSA (Forensic Nurse-Certified Sexual Assault) which we all had to acquire in order to continue working as SANEs. The nurses I have met through the SANE program in Union County NJ are a wonderful group and I am proud to be one among them.

How does your on call work? How many shifts per month and what is the pay rate that you receive?

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