SANEguy

Hi. I just saw your post today. Hope my responses are not too late: What surprised you about the job? I went through a very thorough SANE training program, so there were not any real surprises. I have also been in nursing many years so there's not much that I haven't already experienced. I think perhaps the only true surprise was finding out how little teens know about sex, STIs, and even their own A&P, and that such a high percentage of young women and even their parents think the lady parts is closed at birth and remains closed until the first intercourse act. What you love? All of it. Young children and adults come to me in perhaps what is and always be will be the darkest moment during their lives, when they have been sexually assaulted. To get them during such a fragile state and help them physically, emotionally, spiritually, and begin their healing processes has a positive life-long impact on them. And their families What you hate? All of it. I love what I do but the fact that we need professionals dedicated to victims of sexual assault reminds me constantly how messed up our society is. I work full time as a SANE and there are 4 other full-time SANEs in my department. Our work never stops. That's just wrong. "What challenges does this field face in general?" Sexual assault exams are not a big money maker for the hospital because of limited reimbursement from the state crime victims' fund. And any time there is a Republican governor and/or president in office we see frozen funding and are in constant fear of losing funding because funds get shifted from social programs to special corporate interests. How often are you subpoenaed? Maybe one in 75 cases. Most cases lead to plea deals before going to a jury. Do you work in the ED or another field as well, or just as a SANE? My program is a separate hospital-based program. I think volunteering with a rape crisis center would be a very valuable experience to help transition later into the SANE role. Good luck!

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.