Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)

For victims who have just reported a sexual assault, being examined at the hospital is often a way to relive unwanted memories; but with a compassionate team that supports victims and strives for healing, the memories can begin to fade.

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program is a branch of the Emergency Department at Medical Center Hospital. It is a multi-disciplinary, victim-centered program available to victims of sexual assault. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners are experienced RNs and normally have a full-time job in addition to sharing SANE “on-call” coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These nurse experts are highly–trained in medical evidence collection, which is a vital piece in the prosecution process. They not only perform forensic examinations on victims but on perpetrators as well.

An acute evidence collection is performed on all victims that present themselves to the Emergency Room within 72 hours of the assault. A chronic examination is done for victims presenting outside of the 72-hour window. Nurse examiners see an average of 10-15 patients per month. Although 80 percent of these patients are children, victims can range from infants to the elderly.

The SANE program is very rewarding and gratifying for the nurse examiners that devote their time to the victims. It is not just a job…it is a calling.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the SANE program, inquire at (432) 640-1017 or cabbott@echd.org