AN EYE ON FORENSIC NURSING—S.A.N.E. CERTIFICATION

With all the new dramas about forensic science on television, we wonder what is forensic nursing?

According to the International Association of Forensic Nurses it is “the application of nursing science to public or legal proceedings; the application of the forensic aspects of health care combined with the bio-psycho-social education of the registered nurse in the scientific investigation and treatment of trauma and/or death of victims and perpetrators of abuse, violence, criminal activity and traumatic accidents. Forensic nurses provide direct services to individual clients, consultation services to nursing, medical and law related agencies, as well as provide expert court testimony in areas dealing with trauma and/or questioned death investigative processes, adequacy of services delivery and specialized diagnoses of specific conditions as related to nursing.”

One role in forensic nursing is the Sexual Assalt Nurse Examiner. SANEs have been practicing nationwide since the 1970s, and recently the Oregon State Board of Nursing outlined the scope of practice for SANEs in Oregon. The OSBN believes that there is an important role for the registered nurse as an examiner for individuals who have been sexually assaulted and that the competencies required of a SANE are within the scope of practice for the RN. According to the OSBN, a RN should not perform sexual assault examinations without the proper training and without demonstrating and maintaining competence.

SANEs provide an objective forensic evaluation for sexual assault patients. Their responsibilities include obtaining a patient history, a history of the reported incident, performing a physical examination, collecting evidence, treating patients or referring them for medical treatment, interacting with patients in a neutral manner to help them make informed decisions, and giving expert testimony in court trials as either a defense or prosecution witness.

Through the Oregon Attorney General's Sexual Assault Task Force, and in accordance with the scope of practice identified by the Oregon State Board of Nursing, nursing professionals (RN, NP, CNS) in Oregon can receive advanced education and clinical preparation in the forensic examination of sexual assault victims and patients. SATF began conducting the SANE trainings in April of 2003. Under the direction of Oregon's Attorney General, the SATF is currently in the process of establishing an Oregon SANE Certification Commission.

To find out the schedule of Sexual Assault Training Institutes for SANEs, visit the Oregon SATF Web site at: http://www.oregonsatf.org/Training.htm

For more information about forensic nursing, go to:

International Association of Forensic Nurses
http://www.forensicnurse.org/

Read the IAFN's fact sheet on SANEs http://www.forensicnurse.org/news/factshet.pdf

Read the Oregon State Board of Nursing's position on Registered Nurse Scope of Practice as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner http://egov.oregon.gov/OSBN/pdfs/Sane.pdf

Thank you to Linda Crowder Manous B.S. Class of 1970 for the SANE story idea!

Last updated January 19, 2005 by OHSU School of Nursing Web Managers.
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