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A look into the SANE nurse unit, a key source of survivor support
Lana Garcia, TOTA board member and lead SANE nurse at CoxHealth, shares details of her work.
Managing the trauma of sexual violence can be difficult — but survivors don’t have to go through the process alone. Among those providing informed care to survivors are SANE nurses. Lana Garcia, board member of Triumph Over Trafficking Alliance and lead SANE nurse at CoxHealth.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, we highlight the work of Garcia as a key woman behind TOTA’s history and one of many SANE nurses shaping survivors’ path to a safe recovery. Here is what she had to share about the role:
The Q&A
What exactly does your work as a SANE nurse involve?
A SANE nurse is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. We are responsible for working with victims of sexual violence to record narratives of their experiences and to gather any evidence available. We chart all details of the events using medicolegal documentation, meaning in terms related to medicine and law. This information allows their cases to be upheld in a court of law.
How many victims of sexual violence come through your hospital department on average per year?
In Missouri, victims who are 13 years old and younger receive care from a SAFE provider. These providers offer different services than a SANE-trained nurse. Youth in the age group receive care at the Child Advocacy Center.
In the hospital, we care for those 14 years old and older, seeing roughly 160 patients a year.
What is your standard procedure for assisting those who have experienced sexual violence?
An average exam starts with recognizing that a patient could be a victim of sexual violence. We then screen these individuals to make sure that they are 14 years old or older, have experienced assault within five days or 120 hours and are consenting to forensic collection. We would never collect from a person without their explicit consent.
If these conditions are met, a SANE nurse offers patients their reporting options. The process includes explaining that it is their choice whether to involve the police or not. We then ask about the details of their assault to identify the need for collecting evidence of their experience. After collecting evidence, we determine if medication is necessary or requested. We strive to foster the safety of patients by ensuring that when they are discharged from the hospital, they go to a place that limits the possibility of their being revictimized.
Who have you seen to be most at-risk of sexual violence in Missouri?
Those we consider most at risk in our area include homeless individuals, psychiatric patients and those who experience addiction, among related vulnerabilities. These patients may be vulnerable because they often lack financial and social support. They also tend to lack shelter or have a limited presence of friends and family.
What challenges do you face in the role of a SANE nurse?
Challenges in any role can change and involve many factors. Some we see include keeping staff trained and accessible and understanding COVID restrictions, although these are lessening. We always seek ways to best connect with community members to let them know our services exist. In addition, we strive to foster the emotional health of our nurses to ensure they can continue to provide quality trauma-informed care. Our work can also involve changes in political climates, such as surrounding emergency contraceptives.
What do you wish more people knew about your work and those you serve?
Our forensic kits are free to those who need them. They are also available to victims of violence up to five days from the time of their assault. The availability applies regardless of whether these individuals choose to work with the police.
How do you serve victims’ needs when they are present in your department?
We try to be holistic. Besides providing medical care, we also focus on giving trauma-informed emotional care. Our actions are always victim-centered.
What do you see as their needs when leaving your department?
Many patients need comfort care kits, which include a clothing set, snacks to eat and a hygiene kit. Some also need a safe place or ride to get there. These needs are handled on a case-by-case basis.
How can the general public get involved with advocating for survivors of sexual violence?
Advocacy can start with supporting local resource centers like TOTA or the Victim Center. It is always helpful and appreciated when the public provides donations to these resource centers that we can distribute to those in need. Education is also a crucial component of advocacy. Education becomes a path to empowerment when community members learn about fostering prevention and share what they know with their friends and family. There’s great value in talking with young people, especially to ensure they understand the autonomy of their bodies and how to protect them. We also want them to know where to find help if they experience violence.