The SANE program at Hempstead, N.Y.-based Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies trained the nurses for over six months. The nurses learned to support victims of sexual assault both emotionally and medically while also collecting forensic evidence. They each completed 40 hours of classroom training and 300 hours of clinical training, thanks to a $780,000 federal grant supporting the program.
SANE nurses stay with patients for up to six hours to gain their trust, ask them questions, conduct physical exams and obtain evidence for law enforcement. They play a crucial role in making patients feel safe, since lack of SANE nurses can sometimes worsen patients’ trauma after a sexual assault, Northwell Health said in a statement.
Northwell emergency departments have treated 699 sexual assault victims since January 2018.
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