Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are registered nurses who have completed specialized education and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of the patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse. Sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) programs have become the standard of care for victims of sexual violence in many parts of the country. UCASA’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Statewide Coordinator is tasked with facilitating on-site skills training and regional professional development opportunities for SANEs throughout Utah. Our SANE Coordinator provides technical assistance and consultation via phone, e-mail, and site visits to patient care, evidence collection, SANE services development and sustainability, and HIV prophylaxis and treatment protocols for victims of rape and sexual assault. The SANE Coordinator also works collaboratively with allied professionals to develop and deliver training to law enforcement investigators and prosecutors on collecting, documenting, and presenting forensic evidence in sexual assault cases.

The primary goal for UCASA’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training and Coordination Program is to increase the number of rural communities providing SANE care as part of a multidisciplinary, victim-centered approach that meet the standards described in the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations. The National Protocol is designed as a model for jurisdictions developing a response that is sensitive to victims of sexual assault and promotes offender accountability. The SANE Programs primary objectives are to increase the availability of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners able to provide medical care and evidence collection for victims of sexual assault in rural communities and to sustain the skills and resources of SANE programs in rural communities.

If you have specific questions about our SANE program, please contact Susan Chasson at [email protected] or 801-376-6962.