Male nurses and SANE

Frosty · Mar 2, 2011

Just a quick update ...i graduated in 2008 and have worked in the long term care setting since then. I am no longer looking into forensic nursing or SANE training. Still meeting obstacles and negativity...so in the meantime, i am working on my issues and educating myself ...who knows...maybe someday things will change :mad:

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

Male nurse here, done ER, currently critical care.
I'm all for pushing envelopes, but a male SANE nurse isn't the right envelope to push.
Go through the training if you want to learn the forensics of it, but don't expect to actually function in that capacity.
If I were running an ER, NO WAY would I let a man do the SANE work.
First off, unless all your docs are female, another man in the room (you), means the need for a woman - tying up another staff member.
More important, there are just sometimes when being a man is incompatible with some aspects of nursing - and asserting your 'rights' on a woman who's real rights where just brutally violated - that's just cruel and certainly not empathetic.
Men and Women, nurses or not, are not interchangeable. There are just some things that women can't do. And some things men can't. (I don't expect to qualify as a 'hooter's girl', and, until society seriously changes, I don't expect to see a female pro football tackle.)
You cannot be the psychological help this woman needs when she needs help because of 'men'. It's easy to SAY 'it's a specific man, not me', but when somebody are so traumatized, the finer points of abstract thought don't hold sway. Such trauma pushes you into your more 'instinctual' zones. And in that situation, yet another man (perp, then doc, THEN you) examining a girl's violated 'zones' is another violation.
And that's not what we're about.
I've seen an assertive female voice bring a girl back from the edge of insanity. And as much as I credit the training and compassion of that nurse, I cannot discount the female nature of that voice. . .
~faith,
Timothy.

Pure discrimination dude, Thanks for paying it forward...

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

This is from Virginia Lynch Forensic Nursing Science, second edition 2011. p. 381.

"More recently, male RNs who wanted to be SANEs have been trained and, likely as a result of their empathetic and nonjudgemental approach, victims have successfully accepted them. The forensic nurse response team in Houston, Texas, had three men on the team in 2004, and in more than 600 cases performed by all three combined, only one instance in which a patient preferred a female examiner was reported (Rooms, 2004). After having power and control over one's body ripped away by a male, having a male restore a sense of control by gaining consent before talking, touching, or examining the patient is often cited as restoring a more positive image of men in general. Men in nursing who specialize in in domestic violence cases have also cited this benefit. It has been noted that the ability to of the examiner to convey genuine concern, empathy, and return power and control is a more important characteristic than gender".

Please don't tell me I can't help put a rapist away because I'm a man. Or that I cannot be sensitive and caring with a victim. I will be seeking SANE certification soon and you won't find a more passionate advocate for the SANE process. I bought the line that we are all capable and can be nurses regardless of our backgrounds.

LPNweezy · Mar 3, 2011

Not sure id be comfortable having a man look at me down there after i was just sexually assaulted... :uhoh3:

But SANE nursing is optional in forensics. SANE is just a certification, you don't have to get certified if you don't think its necessary. Working in the morgue and being part of a forensic medical team trying to figure out how the person died sounds like a very fun job!! i'm a huge law and order buff so, go figure :)

LPNweezy · Mar 3, 2011

Male nurse here, done ER, currently critical care.
I'm all for pushing envelopes, but a male SANE nurse isn't the right envelope to push.
Go through the training if you want to learn the forensics of it, but don't expect to actually function in that capacity.
If I were running an ER, NO WAY would I let a man do the SANE work.
First off, unless all your docs are female, another man in the room (you), means the need for a woman - tying up another staff member.
More important, there are just sometimes when being a man is incompatible with some aspects of nursing - and asserting your 'rights' on a woman who's real rights where just brutally violated - that's just cruel and certainly not empathetic.
Men and Women, nurses or not, are not interchangeable. There are just some things that women can't do. And some things men can't. (I don't expect to qualify as a 'hooter's girl', and, until society seriously changes, I don't expect to see a female pro football tackle.)
You cannot be the psychological help this woman needs when she needs help because of 'men'. It's easy to SAY 'it's a specific man, not me', but when somebody are so traumatized, the finer points of abstract thought don't hold sway. Such trauma pushes you into your more 'instinctual' zones. And in that situation, yet another man (perp, then doc, THEN you) examining a girl's violated 'zones' is another violation.
And that's not what we're about.
I've seen an assertive female voice bring a girl back from the edge of insanity. And as much as I credit the training and compassion of that nurse, I cannot discount the female nature of that voice. . .
~faith,
Timothy.

i agree, very well written.

Phyxius · Mar 4, 2011

This is from Virginia Lynch Forensic Nursing Science, second edition 2011. p. 381.
"More recently, male RNs who wanted to be SANEs have been trained and, likely as a result of their empathetic and nonjudgemental approach, victims have successfully accepted them. The forensic nurse response team in Houston, Texas, had three men on the team in 2004, and in more than 600 cases performed by all three combined, only one instance in which a patient preferred a female examiner was reported (Rooms, 2004). After having power and control over one's body ripped away by a male, having a male restore a sense of control by gaining consent before talking, touching, or examining the patient is often cited as restoring a more positive image of men in general. Men in nursing who specialize in in domestic violence cases have also cited this benefit. It has been noted that the ability to of the examiner to convey genuine concern, empathy, and return power and control is a more important characteristic than gender".
Please don't tell me I can't help put a rapist away because I'm a man. Or that I cannot be sensitive and caring with a victim. I will be seeking SANE certification soon and you won't find a more passionate advocate for the SANE process. I bought the line that we are all capable and can be nurses regardless of our backgrounds.

Thank you so much for this. Really.

TTen · Mar 8, 2011

https://allnurses.com/forensic-nursing/men-forensic-nursing-387972.html#post3861496

Quoting:

"I am a male SANE certified in both child and adult sexual assault forensic examinations. I have never experienced any problem with any patient. On a rare occasion a few are skeptical about the exam, sometimes about me, but mostly what I am going to do during the exam. Explaining to them step-by-step what will occur, guaranteeing their comfort, safety and modesty every step of the way, and letting them know they are in charge of the exam puts them at ease. They know they can stop the exam any time and ask questions or just take a rest, talk to me about their favorite movies, music, etc., and we proceed only when they are ready. They have made me an expert on Hannah Montana, Britney, Dora, Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Beyonce . After the exam I almost always gets hugs of appreciation from patients and mom’s for my attention to their comfort, gentleness, and post-exam teaching about the colposcope images taken, STD education, injuries, healing, follow-up needs, etc. Several adult patients and mothers of peds patients have asked me if they could return in the future for me to do their annual PAPs because I was "so kind and professional." Unfortunately I must decline because that is not the scope of my practice. It is all in your professional approach. I spend an hour or more talking with patients and mom’s (or other guardian) before beginning the exam. Introduce yourself, let them know your credentials and experiences. Help them realize it’s all about them and absolutely nothing is going to happen that they do not want to happen. I have patients and moms call me months later to thank me again, and give me updates on their post-assault recovery. Some have said the day they came to see me they had no idea what was going to happen, how to handle what had happened, what to do, where to go, who to turn to, and that I got them going in the right direction, gave them courage, listened to them without judgment, and they’re "going to be ok now." That’s what it’s all about. When a little one, teen or adult woman comes to you for a sexual assault exam treat them like a real princess. Help them understand they are the only thing in the universe that matters at that moment. Anything less is unacceptable."

PEDSICU · Mar 17, 2011

Frosty

It's so sad to have the road blocks you have encountered. I have been a SANE nurse going on 11 years, I'm a MALE, and have only had one person refuse me at first "that was due to another staff member saying something to her prior to me coming in the room" but by talking with her, her family and the physician she allowed me to do the exam. I have done infants, children, teenagers, young, old, male & female and I cannot see why people think the way they do. I have had more problems with staff members then anything. They have no ideal what we do, how we do it and why we do it. In the quote above I could almost say the same thing and that is what I do also. It really is all in your professional approach. I have talked to Virgina Lynch, Jamie Ferrell who started the SANE programs and they will tell you men are needed in this field. It is a passion that you feel deep down when you help someone in need and you should not be pentalized just because of your gender. I have the upmost compassion for someone who has had this happen to them but when you have the passion and the knowledge to go that extra mile you need to do it. I spent 11 years in the ICU and would get called down to the ER to do these cases because no one knew how or felt very unsure of themself. I'm now the educator in our ER at a childrens hospital. During my 15 years here there was only one other staff member who had their SANE Lic. In our state it is a seperate lic process. I have taught from 1st year medical students to attending on how to do this and to go outside the box. Which means any one can go down a list to collect but you need to think outside the box to get it all down. I received my MSN in Nursing education and working on my Masters in Forensics. Please don't let "roadblocks" stop you from doing this type of work. Being a SANE nurse is very tough job because it is emotional rollercoster and is very challenging because you see some of the worst in humans and what is happening day in and day out in the world. I hope you will rethink about it and let your heart and your passion lead you on this road. I alway think about my three children when I do a case because I want what is best for them and not some one who thnks they know what to do.