Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training

Become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner with the IU Health and IU School of Nursing Academic-Practice Partnership for Forensic Nursing

Forensic nursing is a unique specialty that combines the art of nursing with health care science as well as the legal system to help bridge the gap between medicine and law.

Forensic nurses provide comprehensive care to victims of violence, offering detailed medical forensic exams, while placing medical and emotional well-being as the priority. A forensic nurse can be a registered nurse (RN) or an advanced-practice nurse (APN).

There are a variety of subspecialties within forensic nursing, including forensic nurse examiner (FNE), sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) for adolescent/adult or pediatric patients. There is also forensic nurse death investigator (NDI) or nurse coroner, forensic psychiatric nurse, forensic clinical nurse specialist, legal nurse consultant, forensic gerontology specialist, and correctional nurse, SWAT team nursing and more.

This 40+ hour didactic course will focus on sexual assault nurse examiner training for adolescent and adult patients. Scroll down to see our sexual assault nurse examiner training opportunities and to apply.

The IU Health and IU School of Nursing Academic-Practice Partnership for Forensic Nursing Training, Practice, and Retention is a grant-funded program, awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These training opportunities are funded by HRSA Grant #T96HP53171.

The IU Academic-Practice Partnership for Forensic Nursing provides multiple FREE training opportunities including:

  • 40+ hours of didactic forensic SANE training
  • a two-day forensic SANE simulation training
  • an up to 60-hour clinical preceptorship
  • a variety of evidence-based continuing education opportunities to enable forensic SANE-trained nurses to maintain and advance skills and competencies
  • peer support and sharing of best practices through networking and mentorship

Learn more about becoming a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)

SANE is an acronym for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. SANEs are trained to provide care to patients through a medical forensic exam. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner role is one of the many roles of a forensic nurse.

SANEs provide medical forensic exams, including a comprehensive medical forensic history, and implement a post-sexual assault plan of care and continuity of care.

SANEs may also be called to serve as a fact or expert witness by the legal system. These healthcare providers must understand the legal and medical implications of their care.

The medical forensic exam, or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam, is a comprehensive head-to-toe exam performed by a registered nurse to preserve evidence of a sexual assault.

The examination includes gathering information from the patient for the medical forensic history; a physical exam; coordinating treatment of injuries, documentation of biological and physical findings, and collection of evidence from the patient. The exam also includes documentation of findings; information, treatment, and referrals for STIs, pregnancy, suicidal ideation, alcohol and substance abuse, as well as non-acute medical concerns. Follow-up is also important to provide additional healing and treatment.

  • Minimum of two years in clinical practice as a registered nurse
  • Each registered nurse must have a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number (Please read the instructions at the link carefully as it is a two-step process.)
  • Completion of the application process, which includes two letters of recommendation
  • Completion of an interview
  • Signed class policy agreement

Depending upon your interest or where you work, you may choose to participate in:

  • Adult/Adolescent didactic and clinical courses, which are for the care of Adult and Adolescent patients ages 14 or older
OR

  • Pediatric didactic and clinical courses, which are for the care of pre-pubescent children

Please note: Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric courses are not the same as each course prepares the attendee for the unique needs and care of the different age groups, The Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric course also has a separate clinical requirement.

First, you will need to complete an initial 40-hour didactic education component in either Adult/Adolescent or Pediatric BEFORE the clinical education component. (The clinical education component is NOT mandatory.) Scroll down to see our training opportunities and to apply.

Additional training options are available after the didactic education and clinical education components have been successfully completed.

SANE Continuing Education

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Indiana Community Action Association, 1845 W. 18th St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Cost
$75 for RNs, EMS
$50 for prosecutors, law enforcement, social workers, and advocates

This course will focus on the medical aspect of strangulation, community and collaborative relationships, legal aspects of strangulation, and the strangulation assessment.

Strangulation cases often require a multidisciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and legal experts. Participants will learn how to identify injuries, including the possibility of internal injuries that require prompt recognition and intervention. Legal definitions and implications surrounding strangulation are discussed, along with the need for accurate documentation, investigation practices, and legal proceedings.

Community Partners

This course is a joint venture between the Indy Roadrunners Chapter 134 Emergency Nurses Association, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), Indy Champions, and the Marion County Prosecutors Office.

Continuing Education

6.75 Indiana Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and ANCC contact hours have been submitted for attorneys, law enforcement personnel, nurses, and others.

Register here

It's critical for SANEs to have continuing education opportunities to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care. 

We're currently developing a schedule for continuing education opportunities. Please check back for more information soon.

It's critical for SANEs to have continuing education opportunities to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care. 

We're currently developing a schedule for continuing education opportunities. Please check back for more information soon.

It's critical for SANEs to have continuing education opportunities to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care. 

We're currently developing a schedule for continuing education opportunities. Please check back for more information soon.

Meet the IU Academic-Practice Partnership for Forensic Nursing Team

Barbra Bachmeier

JD, MPH, MSN, APRN, NP-C, CPH, DF-AFN, FAEN
Project Director
IU Health
Email Barbra

Natalie Calow

MSN, RN, CEN, AFN-C
Center of Hope Forensics Coordinator
IU Health
Email Natalie

Paula Reiss

MSN, RN, FAEN
Certified Health and Wellbeing Coach
IU School of Nursing faculty
Email Paula

Molly Bauer

PhD, RN, CEN, TCRN
Principal Investigator
IU School of Nursing faculty
Email Molly

Still Have Questions?

Contact the Center for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning at the Indiana University School of Nursing at cenurse@iu.edu.

End Violence Against Women International

Specialists in trauma-informed law enforcement response

In the News

Current Forensic Nursing Job Openings

All current job openings are submitted. Any inquiries about these job openings should be directed to the individual organizations.

This website is supported by the HRSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of Grant #T96HP53171. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.