Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a qualification for forensic nurses who have received special training to conduct sexual assault evidentiary exams for rape victims. Not all, but many SANE programs are coordinated by rape crisis centers rather than hospitals. Some programs are employed by law enforcement and conduct their exams at stand alone sites, not in an ER. SANEs are on call 24-hours a day and may arrive at the hospital emergency room within an hour of a sexual assault victim’s arrival. Some programs will wait until the patient has had a medical screening exam (MSE) and then have law enforcement bring a stable patient to the SART site for their exam. If the patient is in critical condition and admitted to the hospital, the SANE can perform a 'mobile exam' and bring their exam supplies and camera to the hospital. In addition to the collection of forensic evidence, they also provide access to crisis intervention counseling, STI testing, drug testing if drug-facilitated rape is suspected, and emergency contraception. A SANE will also supply medical referrals for additional medical care or possible follow ups to document how they are healing.