The Role Of The SANE The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
by Larry Ford
Studies
have shown that less than half of the victims of sexual assault treated
in emergency rooms get basic help with information about the risk of
pregnancy or emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.
They have to wait for sometimes up to six hours for treatment, and
during this wait, they're told not to eat, drink, or even use the
bathroom before they're examined because it might destroy evidence.
By the time of the examination, victims often feel "re-raped" from the
treatment by the staff of the emergency room. For this reason,
emergency rooms are realizing a need for SANE programs.
SANE's are registered nurses who have specialized training in examining
victims of sexual assault. They provide much needed emotional
support for victims as well as testify in trials as expert witnesses in
the victim's perpetrator's trials.
They have extensive training in forensic evidence collection, expert
witness testimony, STD treatment, and pregnancy evaluation. 75% of SANE
programs are hospital based, housed in the emergency rooms while 25%
are in the community setting at rape crisis centers or health
clinics.
The first SANE programs started in the mid 1970's but it wasn't until
the late 1980's that the programs got a major growth spurt as they grew
more rapidly in the 1990's when localities started to see the benefits
of what these SANE programs have to offer. And by 1996, there were
approximately 70 programs in existence.
Now, there are at least 280 SANE programs throughout the United States.
Nearly all of these SANE programs serve adolescents and adults, and
around half serve pediatric patients.
The programs are staffed by RN's and nurse practitioners that conduct
forensic exams of victims of sexual assault. They are required by law
to report to local law enforcement sexual assaults that may have caused
the victim injury.
On the other hand, the victim has the right to decide to have evidence
collected and cooperate with law enforcement by providing them with
information. After a SANE program is established, most emergency room
personnel are relieved by the service that SANE's provide.
Many municipalities are starting to see the need in these much needed
programs. They offer a great service to victims by quickly processing
forensic evidence and giving emotional support while making their time
to wait for examination as short as possible.
As SANE programs get more and more popular, we'll start to see many
more of these programs as time goes on and this can only help the
victims of sexual violence and help put their perpetrators behind bars
so they won't have a chance to hurt anyone else.
About the Author
Larry Ford is the webmaster of Forensic Nursing Zone, a website
dedicated to the new specialty of forensic nursing. You can find it at http://www.forensicnursingzone.com/
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