Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE)
A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a Registered Nurse who has been specially trained to provide comprehensive, uninterrupted care to sexual assault survivors, including conducting the forensic collection of evidence. The goal of the SANE Program is to minimize the physical and psychological trauma to the victim and to maximize the probability of collecting and preserving the physical evidence of an assault for potential use in the legal system.
Mission of the SANE Program
- To avoid further trauma to all sexual assault survivors in the health care environment.
- To provide a compassionate and sensitive approach to sexual assault victims.
- To provide timely medical/forensic examination with more complete evidence collection.
- To provide referral for follow-up care and counseling.
- To provide testimony as needed.
State of New Hampshire Comprehensive Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Certification Requirements
- Attendance of all six days of didactic/clinical program.
- Completion of four hours observation of criminal courtroom trial proceedings.
- Completion of three sexual assault medical/forensic examinations with evidence collection under the preceptorship of a certified SANE or MD in the adolescent/adult population.
- After two years of practice, passing the International Association of Forensic Nurse SANE-A Certification Examination.
- Adhering to the currency of practice recommendations of the NH SANE Program.
- Completion of a minimum of five sexual assault evidence collection kits on adolescent/adult sexual assault survivors every two years.
State of New Hampshire SANE Pediatric Certification Requirements
- Completion of all above expectations.
- Completion of pediatric preceptorship of 25 well-child exams.
- Completion of a minimum of ten acute sexual assault evaluations on child sexual assault survivors every two years.
- Completion of a minimum of eight continuing education hours pertaining to sexual assault every two years if caring for adolescent/adult survivors.
- Completion of a minimum of sixteen hours continuing education pertaining to child sexual assault, eight of which must be case review, every two years if caring for child survivors.
The SANE Program provides comprehensive training for nurses throughout the year. Click here for the training schedule. For more information on The SANE Program please contact Katie Barthelmes at (603) 224-8893 ext. 306 or email: katie@nhcadsv.org
New Hampshire Hospitals with SANE nurses
| Chesire medical Center | Concord Hospital | Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center | Elliot Hospital* |
| Exeter Hospital* | Franklin Regional Hospital | Frisbie Memorial Hosptial* | Huggins Hospital |
| Lakes Region General Hospital | Littleton Regional Hospital | Monadnock Community Hospital | Parkland Medical Center* |
| Portsmouth Regional Hospital | Southern NH Medical Center | Speare Memorial Hospital | St Joseph Hospital |
| The Memorial Hospital | Wentworth-Douglass Hospital* | Valley Regional Hospital* | Hospitals with an asterisk have Pediatric SANE's |
Click on the links to download the following forms:
These forms should be returned to the attention of:
Heather Gunnell
NHCADSV
PO Box 353
Concord, NH 03302
They can also be faxed to (603) 228-6096
- A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations - Adults/Adolescents
- State of New Hampshire, Office of the Attorney General, Sexual Assault: An Acute Care Protocol for Medical/Forensic Evaluation, Sixth Edition, 2011
- Handbook on the Evaluation & Management of the Sexually Assaulted or Sexually Abused Patient, by the American College of Emergency Physicians
