We have a SANE/SART (sexual assault nurse examiner/sexual assault response team) program through Gibson General Hospital. It currently consists of 3 nurses (with 3 more to be trained this year) 4 advocates, and 2 officers. What is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner? Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) are specialists in one of the most well-known fields within the arena of forensic nursing. Howeve
r, many SANEs are moving beyond sexual assault patients, using their education and experience to expand their clinical practices to accommodate victims of other forms of interpersonal violence. In the past several years, more experienced SANEs have extended their practices into the care of victims of domestic violence. What is a Sexual Assault Response Team? Coordinated sexual assault response teams or programs are generally designed to ensure that victims are provided with a broad range of necessary care and services (legal, medical, social services) and to increase the likelihood that the assault can be successfully prosecuted. Often, such programs or teams include a forensic examiner, a sexual assault advocate, a prosecutor, and a law enforcement officer. All responding actors follow specific protocols that set out their responsibilities in treating and providing services to victims of sexual assault.
