For inquiries about SANE Training and Programs, please contact Jenn Thayer, Director of SANE Training and Sustainability Program at jthayer@fcasv.org or (850) 544-1656

40 Hour Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training Description 

The primary audience for the training is APRNs, RNs, physician assistants, and physicians; however, it is also valuable to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, and crime lab analysts. It is an approved International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) course, which adheres to the National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners for adults and adolescents. Once the training is completed, the participant will have a clear understanding of the principles of care and evidence collection to provide care for those adults and adolescents who experience a sexual assault.

The nursing instructor is an experienced trainer and sexual assault nurse examiner who is IAFN certified in adult and adolescent medical forensic exams. The 40-hour training includes both lecture, hands-on skills training, and guest speakers (law enforcement, victim advocate, state attorney, and crime lab analyst). Training materials reflect current best practices and participants are equipped with a comprehensive training manual, complete with color photos for injury documentation, evidence-based research articles, and references. Group exercises incorporate lecture materials with hands-on experience. Small class size allows for individual attention from the instructor.

Nursing participants receive 40 CEUs. Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Florida Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the Florida Board of Nursing Provider ID Number 50-3103.  

SANE Advanced Training Topics:

  • PTSD and Vicarious Trauma

  • Anatomy Review

  • Taking the Medical Forensic History

  • Head to Toe Assessment for Females and Males

  • Forensic Documentation

  • Trauma Identification

  • Forensic Photography

  • Evidence Collection and Packaging Techniques

  • Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

  • Skills Practice Sessions with Mock Case Studies

  • Case Review

  • Courtroom Preparation and Testimony

  • Strangulation

  • Consent and the Incapacitated Patient

Clinical Skills Validation Assessment

The SANE Validation training is for the purpose of validating a SANE trained nurse’s ability to conduct a thorough, appropriate, and accurate medical-forensic exam with evidence collection and packaging. If the SANE-trained nurse demonstrates competency, a validation letter of competency will be provided.

There are three reasons a SANE would attend the training:  1) a SANE program’s leadership would like their contracted or employed SANE’s skills observed and validated (initially or as a quality assurance activity); 2) a currently practicing SANE is needing documentation to apply for the International Association of Forensic Nurses Adult/Adolescent SANE certification exam; and 3) a SANE’s own personal desire to validate their medical forensic exam skills.

To be eligible for this training, you must:

  • be a registered nurse who has completed the 40-hour didactic course, 

  • bring a signed letter from a qualified preceptor (SANE-A, ARNP, MD, DO or PA) verifying speculum exam competency, and 

  • have observed or conducted a minimum of five medical forensic exams.

The SANE trained nurse should arrive ready to conduct a medical forensic exam. 

A SANE-A proctor will observe the SANE-trained nurse’s ability to conduct a mock medical forensic exam from start to finish. Refer to the list above in the clinical skills development lab for the tasks that will need to be demonstrated in the assessment.

Clinical Skills Basic Development Lab

The purpose of the SANE Clinical Skills Simulation Day is to prepare the didactically trained SANE for clinical aspects of the adult/adolescent sexual assault medical-forensic examination, regardless of the provider’s practice setting. 

In order to participate, the participant must have completed the 40-Hour Adult/Adolescent SANE Training. This training is not to confirm competency of speculum insertion/use.

The participant will have guidance and, if needed, will have the assistance of the SANE-A proctor to demonstrate the following tasks:

  1. Discuss exam options with patient and obtain informed consent

  2. Obtain a medical and sexual assault history

  3. Explain the speculum exam, including speaking and listening skills, focusing on speculum insertion/removal and visualization techniques including swabbing and Toluidine Blue Dye use 

  4. Identify normal anatomy and variants in the anatomy of the genitalia

  5. Use multiple visualization techniques including swabbing and traction

  6. Demonstration of potential evidence collection based upon patient history

  7. Photo-document any relevant injuries/anomalies

  8. Document injuries on diagrams 

  9. Preserve and package potential evidence, complete & maintain chain of custody

  10. Gain confidence in the process of the forensic exam