Adult Sexual Assault Survivors’ Experiences With Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)

Abstract

Sexual assault survivors often feel traumatized by the care received in traditional hospital emergency departments. To address these problems, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs were created to provide comprehensive medical care, crisis intervention, and forensic services. However, there is limited research on the actual experiences and emotional impact of sexual assault survivors who seek treatment from SANEs. This qualitative study examined twenty rape survivors' experiences with forensic nurse examiners of a Midwestern SANE program. Findings suggest that SANEs provided survivors with care and compassion, clear explanations, and choices. Taken together, these positive experiences were perceived as "humanizing". However, some survivors perceived forensic nurses as hurtful when they were not provided with choices, explanation, and/or acted cold and distant. Implications for future research on SANE care and practice are discussed.

Sexual Assault Services Coverage on Native American Land

“…Studies evaluating the effectiveness of SAE and SART programs have shown that these programs improve the quality of healthcare and judicial outcomes (Bechtel et al, 2008;Campbell et al, 2012;Fehler-Cabral et al, 2011). In response to the former question, on the Native American lands with a program within a 60-minute driving distance, the IHS-and tribal-operated hospitals increased coverage by 22%, bringing the total coverage for those 35 lands to 36.3%.…”

“…SART, on the other hand, is used in conjunction with SAE to be inclusive of programs included in the study that reflect a SART model but may or may not offer sexual assault examination services SAE and SART programs have been shown to enhance the quality of care of survivors of sexual assault, collect better forensic evidence, and lead to further progression of cases within the justice system (Bechtel, Ryan, & Gallagher, 2008;Campbell, Patterson, & Bybee, 2012;Campbell, Patterson, & Lichty, 2005;Crandall & Helitzer, 2003;Fehler-Cabral, Campbell, & Patterson, 2011;Martin, Young, Billings, & Bross, 2007;Nugent-Borakove et al, 2006;Selig, 2000). To be consistent with the terminology that the Indian Health Service uses, this refers to healthcare professionals who are specially trained to provide sexual assault care as SAEs.…”

Stopping rape

“…A child born of rape may be at risk of infanticide (WHO, 2012a). Sexual violence and rape is also frequently perpetrated without extreme physical violence, and therefore there may not be any observable physical injuries (Sugar et al, 2003), or there may be limited injuries in the form of superficial wounds, soft tissue and/or musculoskeletal trauma (Fehler-Cabral et al, 2011).…”

“…However, victim-survivors presenting at an emergency department for healthcare often did not have life-or limbthreatening physical injuries, and reported long waits to be seen after being triaged as 'non-urgent' (Wang and Rowley, 2007). While victim-survivors who accessed a SANE service valued being given thorough explanations, being able to make choices during their examination, and receiving compassionate care, some had negative experiences, such as not having enough explanation or choice, or their examiner being cold and distant (Fehler-Cabral et al, 2011). Specialist training is important -in a recent systematic review, victim-survivors accessing a SANE service were significantly more likely to receive pregnancy prophylaxis and non-HIV sexually transmitted infection prophylaxis than those accessing a non-SANE health professional (Toon and Gurusamy, 2014).…”

Identificación de las fortalezas, preocupaciones y necesidades educativas del Servicio Rural de Agresión sexual en las comunidades rurales y aborígenes de Alberta (Canadá)

“…11 Estas respuestas, o incluso el miedo a estas respuestas, tienen un impacto en el hecho de que las víctimas pidan ayuda, resultando en reticencias para el acceso médico y las intervenciones sociales y legales. 12 La segunda victimización también puede ocurrir si las víctimas reciben un cuidado incompleto o fragmentado, si su caso no es procesado por los tribunales o si el asaltante recibe una sanción mínima. Esto supone riesgos sociales e individuales relacionados con la falta de comunicación cuando las víctimas consideran que no van…”