Rape Exam
Information and Resources
The Exciting Field of Forensic Nursing
What is forensic nursing?
Forensic nursing is an exciting area of specialization within the field of nursing that combines the skills of a registered nurse with training in crime scene investigation and evidence collection. By providing a delicate balance between patient care and evidence collection, forensic nurses play a critical role in treating and investigating cases of abuse, neglect, violence and traumatic accidents. Forensic nurses work for private healthcare facilities, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations and government agencies by providing services such as direct patient care, case documentation, evidence collection, case consultation, expert witness testimony and community education. Please explore the following links to learn more about this exciting field:
- The Forensic Nurse - a website devoted to forensic nurse resources and career development.
- Forensic Nursing Zone - another website devoted to information on the field of forensic nursing.
- Alaska Forensic Nurse - the website of a state-wide forensic nurses' organization in Alaska.
- American Forensic Nurses - the website of the American Forensic Nurse, a forensic nursing professional organization.
- International Association of Forensic Nurses - the website of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, a world-wide professional organization for forensic nurses.
How do I become a forensic nurse?
There are many ways to function as a forensic nurse. In reality, any nurse who performs a rape exam is functioning as a forensic nurse. On the other extreme are nurses with advanced degrees and certifications in forensics who function solely in that capacity. So let's start with the basics.
Rape Kit Training
If you are a nurse who performs rape exams or could possibly perform a rape exam as part of your job, at the very least you should obtain training on using the state-sanctioned rape kit. No rape victim wants to be cared for by a nurse who has never seen a rape kit before. Rape kit training is offered through two venues in the state:
- The Montana Forensic Science Division (state crime lab) offers traditional classroom training sessions on using the Montana Rape Kit. These programs are scheduled on an as-needed basis and are offered once or twice a year. See information from the crime lab for the next scheduled training program.
- The second venue for rape kit training is the on-line program offered on this website. See Online Rape Kit Training for further information.
If you are a Montana nurse who performs rape exams, you owe it to yourself, to rape victims and to the criminal justice system to obtain this basic training.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training
A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or SANE is a nurse who specializes in caring for and collecting evidence from victims of sexual assault. Just to clear up some confusion, a SANE can also be referred to by several other acronyms:
- SAE - Sexual Assault Examiner
- SAFE - Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner
- FNE - Forensic Nurse Examiner
- SANC - Sexual Assault Nurse Clinician
SANEs typically work in emergency departments of healthcare facilities, but they can also work at rape crisis centers, dedicated SANE units and private nonprofit organizations.
To become a certified SANE, you have to take a 40-hour classroom training course, obtain relevant clinical experience and pass a certification exam. The International Association of Forensic Nurses is one organization that offers the SANE certification exam.
- You can take the classroom portion of the SANE certification right here in Montana. Planned Parenthood of Montana goes to great effort every year to put on a one-week SANE training course FREE OF CHARGE to Montana nurses. Space is limited so find out more about this program from Planned Parenthood of Montana.
Whether you pursue SANE certification or not, if you perform rape exams as part of your job, you should take advantage of the free SANE training offered here in our state. We need more SANEs in Montana!
Check out the links below to learn more about SANEs:
- S.A.F.E.-TA - a website sponsored by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Office of Violence Against Women that provides technical support for SANEs using the national protocol developed in 2004.
- National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations - Adults/Adolescents - the 2004 national protocol developed by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. This 141 page PDF is well-worth the download time and paper. A "must have" for any facility that performs rape exams.
- SANE-SART - this site, sponsored by the NIJ Office for Victims of Crime, provides information on SANE resources.
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Programs: Improving the Community Response to Sexual Assault Victims - an excellent publication on the importance of SANEs in the response to sexual assault.
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) - another great article describing the role and function of SANEs.
Advanced Degrees and Certifications in Forensic Nursing
If you are really serious about making forensics your specialty, you can pursue forensic nursing certifications and even graduate degrees. A forensic nursing certification is different from and more involved than a SANE certification. There are no forensic nursing certification or advanced degree programs available in Montana, but they are available all over the country. Many of them are offered partially or exclusively on-line.
Nurses with advanced educations such as these usually work exclusively in a forensic capacity and unfortunately there aren't many of these jobs in Montana. That could change with the increase in SART teams here and the realization of what a forensic nurse can offer to a community. In the mean time, we encourage nurses with an interest in forensics to pursue advanced training in line with their career goals and job responsibilities. We also encourage you to do your research carefully when looking at advanced degree and certification programs before committing your time and money. We offer one link to get you started - a list of forensic nursing programs compiled by the NIJ Office for Victims of Crime.