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SANE

Definition

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner: a registered nurse credentialled by the IAFN to conduct medical-forensic examinations following sexual violence. SANE-A covers adult/adolescent patients; SANE-P covers paediatric patients.

Full name
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Credential types
SANE-A (adult/adolescent), SANE-P (pediatric)
Credentialing body
International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN)

Common questions

What does SANE stand for and what do they do?+

SANE stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. A SANE is a registered nurse who has completed advanced clinical and legal training to conduct forensic medical examinations of sexual assault patients and properly package evidence for legal proceedings.

Are there different types of SANE credentials?+

Yes. The IAFN (International Association of Forensic Nurses) offers SANE-A credentials for nurses who examine adult and adolescent patients, and SANE-P credentials for nurses who work with pediatric patients. Each credential prepares nurses for the specific developmental and clinical needs of their patient population.

Do nurses need special credentials to be a SANE?+

Yes. A SANE must be a registered nurse (RN) who has completed specific advanced clinical and legal training. The IAFN credentialing process ensures nurses meet the medical-forensic examination standards needed in sexual violence cases.

Related terms

IAFN
International Association of Forensic Nurses: the professional body that sets education standards, administers the SANE-A and SANE-P certification examinations, and publishes clinical...
Scope of practice
The legally defined boundaries of what a licensed nurse may do in a given jurisdiction, which for forensic nurses extends to evidence...
FNDI
Forensic Nurse Death Investigator. A registered nurse working within a medical examiner or coroner system to investigate deaths in the field, combining...
One Stop Centre (OSC)
India's government-funded integrated support centres for survivors of violence against women, providing medical, legal, police, psychological, and shelter services under one roof,...
SAFE
Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner: the UK and Canadian term for the specialist forensic-examiner role, which may be held by nurses, midwives, or...
SANE-A / SANE-P
The two IAFN certification examinations: SANE-A for adult and adolescent patients; SANE-P for the paediatric population. Both require documented clinical hours and...
Standing orders
Pre-authorised protocols signed off by a supervising physician or institution that permit the SANE to perform specified clinical acts (evidence collection, prophylaxis,...
Telehealth SANE
A programme model in which a credentialled SANE provides real-time remote guidance via video link, enabling high-quality forensic examinations in rural or...

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