SANE Nurse
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
A registered nurse with specialized training in caring for patients after a sexual assault. A SANE provides medical care, offers a medical forensic exam — the “rape kit” — if the patient chooses one, documents what happened, and connects the patient to advocacy and follow-up care. The patient decides what happens at every step.
Need Support Right Now?
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 · chat at online.rainn.org
What a SANE Does
- Assesses and treats injuries, or arranges treatment.
- Offers medication to prevent sexually transmitted infections and HIV — HIV prevention medication works best started as soon as possible, within 72 hours.
- Offers emergency contraception.
- With the patient's consent, collects and documents evidence. Each part can be accepted or declined.
- Connects the patient with a victim advocate and follow-up care.
- May later testify about the exam if a case goes to court.
The training is the point. A SANE knows how to do this exam in a way that is trauma-informed — explaining each step, asking before each step — on what may be the worst night of someone's life. Not every emergency department has one on duty, which is why advocates' first piece of advice is simple: ask for one.
The Credentials
Board certification comes in two forms: SANE-A, for adults and adolescents, and SANE-P, for pediatric patients. Both were created by the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN).
In April 2026, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced it is taking over both credentials ahead of the IAFN's dissolution. Nurses who perform these exams may have completed SANE training without (yet) holding board certification.
“Free” Only Covers the Kit
Under the Violence Against Women Act, a state receiving VAWA grant funds must make sure a survivor pays nothing out of pocket for the forensic medical exam — whether or not she reports to police or cooperates with a prosecution. The grant money can't pay for exams where survivors are made to seek reimbursement from their own insurance.
But the protection covers the exam. Nurse advocate Anna Harris, RN lists what survivors can still be billed for: the ER facility fee, labs, HIV prevention medication, emergency contraception, imaging or stitches. “Survivors get collections calls months later for the worst night of their lives.”
Her three steps, if this happens to you or someone you love:
- Ask for a SANE nurse.
- Ask registration whether your exam will be billed to a state program.
- Apply to your state's crime victim compensation fund for everything else.
Sources
Appears On
Related Terms