When a person is sexually assaulted, they may choose to undergo a forensic examination to collect DNA evidence left behind in the assault. The evidence is preserved in a sexual assault evidence collection kit, often referred to as a rape kit. Some medical facilities employ specially trained personnel called Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), who have received specific education to perform rape kit exams.

These practitioners differ from other medical providers because they are clinically trained to provide comprehensive care that minimizes trauma and centers the survivor’s needs before, during, and after the exam. While the exact number of SANEs in the United States is unknown, it is widely reported that a very small percentage of registered nurses are certified as SANEs, resulting in a shortage of trained practitioners available to respond to sexual assault survivors.

Below, learn more about the role SANEs play in evidence collection and how they can impact a survivor’s healing journey.

What is a SANE?

A SANE is a registered nurse who has completed a specialized training focusing on treating patients who have experienced sexual assault. SANEs are equipped to understand the specific needs of sexual assault survivors and conduct rape kit exams that are sensitive, dignified, and trauma-informed, reducing further harm to the survivor undergoing the exam—knowledge and skills that other medical personnel likely do not have. In addition to having the qualifications to perform a comprehensive rape kit, a SANE may also be able to testify in court.

SANE programs are primarily based in hospitals, but can also be provided through community-based locations like health clinics or advocacy organizations. Currently, there is no national requirement for hospitals to utilize SANE programs, and only three states have any sort of requirement for trained providers to be available, according to the International Association of Forensic Nurses. However, research shows that examination programs using SANEs collect higher-quality evidence, resulting in higher perpetrator prosecution and conviction rates.

How do I find a SANE?

Contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline or your local rape crisis center for information about a nearby SANE program. Then, ask for a trained examiner upon arriving to the location where the rape kit exam will be performed. In a non-emergency, you can also search the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) database for SANE programs to learn about different programs near you.

What happens if there is not a SANE nearby?

Unfortunately, some regions of the country, particularly rural areas, face severe shortages of SANEs. (The Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act, which Joyful Heart supports, aims to rectify this.) While access to a SANE may be limited by your location, you can still receive a rape kit exam at a hospital by a doctor or nurse who will follow the instructions in the rape kit.

Some medical facilities without in-house SANE programs are beginning to turn to technology to help patients access comprehensive, survivor-centered providers. Programs like TeleSAFE from United Concierge Medicine allow non-trained medical providers to connect with trained SANEs—over the phone or through video chatting—who can guide them through the process of performing a rape kit. However, programs like these are new and not available everywhere.

How does someone become a SANE?

The requirements for becoming a SANE vary slightly from state to state. However, a SANE must first be a registered nurse, “preferably with two years or more [of] experience in areas of practice that require advanced physical assessment skills, such as emergency, critical care, and maternal child health,” according to the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

From there, nurses interested in becoming SANEs are required to undergo SANE training, which includes “classroom and clinical components,” according to IAFN, and later can take a certification exam. There is also a separate training for pediatric SANEs. You can learn more about different SANE trainings and other resources at IAFN or SANE-SART, an online resource center for nurses interested in becoming SANEs.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual or domestic violence, please know you are not alone. For support after sexual assault, contact RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) at 1-800-656-4673 or chat at online.rainn.org. Si necesita ayuda en Español, visite nuestras páginas. Learn how you can support a survivor.