Bill increases access to sexual assault examiner training

Harborview Medical Center is the only hospital in Washington that provides training for nurses to become sexual-assault nurse examiners, also known as SANE. A bill in the Legislature is aimed at taking down barriers to training, especially for those coming from rural and underserved areas.

The House Health Care & Wellness Committee had a virtual session Jan. 10 to discuss HB 1621, which would establish a stipend program for nurses for them to complete a training course designed by the international association of forensic nurses.

“We try to figure out where the system was broken, how do we encourage those SANE nurses to come back in, because without a SANE nurse we can’t get to a prosecution.” said Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, a lead sponsor of the bill.

The program would help cover the cost of transportation, lodging and course fees. Alleviating these financial barriers helps nurses from rural areas cover costs and lost wages when receiving training.

Sexual assault nurse examiners are trained to specifically provide services to sexual assault survivors. Services include, but are not limited to, forensic examinations. According to Mosbrucker, most hospitals in Washington don’t have a SANE nurse or have only one.

Spokane nurse Shawn Reed said when she began working in the emergency room, her initial training was limited to a one-hour session by an in-house educator. Reed said she believes the training she received was insufficient.

“It did not allow me to truly understand the medical, legal, emotional or spiritual impact of sexual assault and the role of the forensic nurse in the emergency department.”