Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE)

The SANE Program is funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health, and coordinated by the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre in partnership with Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority (GASHA) and St. Francis Xavier University (STFX). A SANE is a Registered Nurse who has advanced training and education in forensic examinations of sexual assault victims. Through this program, on-call SANE nurses provide immediate care and conduct forensic examinations of victims of sexual violence.

 The SANE program provides:

• Emergency response, 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• Response to the emergency departments of St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Strait Regional Hospital and Lindsay’s Health Centre for Women.

• Services to both females and males, 13 years of age and older

• Expert testimony in a court of law

• Supportive follow-up for victims

• Storage of forensic evidence for up to six months

 The SANE program does not provide:

• Transportation

• medical services outside the SANE exam sites

• Medical treatment to anyone other than victims of sexual violence

What happens at the hospital?

It is important that a victim/survivor of recent sexual assault/abuse consider seeking medical attention for several reasons:

• To take care of physical needs resulting from the assault/abuse

• To test for pregnancy

• To treat for infections and have follow-up testing for infections

• To collect evidence

• To prevent undue worry later on

 When the victim/survivor goes to the emergency room at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, the Strait Regional Hospital or Lindsay’s Health Centre for Women, and tells the medical personnel that s/he has been sexually assaulted, a SANE nurse will be called. She will be able to attend to the victim/survivor’s medical needs at this time, and if the victim/survivor chooses to have a forensic examination (evidence collection), the SANE will conduct the examination. SANE nurses can also be contacted by: 

• Calling or coming by the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre
• Going to the RCMP
• Going to the Health and counseling services at STFX

 The medical examination involves:

• Taking a medical history
• Documenting details of the assault/abuse to help identify potential infections, injuries or treatment required.
• Taking urine samples to test for pregnancy (follow up testing for STI will occur 2 weeks post assault; there may also be follow up testing at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 month and 12 months)
• An internal exam (vaginal, rectal, and oral) may also be performed at this time.

The victim/survivor may also ask to have a forensic examination. It should be conducted within 72 hours of the assault/abuse. It is preferable, but not mandatory, for the victim/survivor not to shower, bathe, douche, use the washroom, change clothes, eat/drink, or clean teeth, etc until after the exam is completed, as this may destroy evidence. Please note, the forensic examination will only be conducted if the victim/survivor has given consent. The victim/survivor can stop the forensic exam at any time.

What is a forensic examination?

A forensic examination includes the steps listed for a medical exam, as well as the following:

•  Collecting all clothing for evidence
• A head to toe visual exam looking for bruises, cuts, scratches, blood stains, seminal stains etc
• Fingernail scrapings may be taken
• Photographs may also be taken of injuries
• Oral, rectal and vaginal swabs may be taken to examine for blood or semen

This process takes approximately two hours to complete. Only the SANE nurse(s) and other emergency department personnel need to be present during this exam. The victim/survivor may wish to have a support person as well (i.e. a friend or a sexual assault worker). The police do not need to be present.