How Avera SANE nurses help sexual assault victims report and heal

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera.

Sexual assault is a real thing, and it happens right here in the Midwest. In fact, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska all have a higher sexual assault rate per capita than New York.

Avera continues to invest resources in helping sexual assault – sometimes called interpersonal violence –and human trafficking patients get the care they need in an emergency room during a difficult setting, both physically and mentally.

“Interpersonal violence is really happening, right here in the Midwest,” said Jen Canton, a registered nurse and Avera’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or SANE, supervisor. “It’s not something we can ignore, even if it’s hard to discuss.”

Last week, the health system announced grant funding of $950,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice over a three-year period to enhance the availability of trained sexual assault nurse examiners for victims of interpersonal violence.

“Trained SANEs are absolutely essential in advocating and caring for victims of crimes like sexual assault and human trafficking. SANEs help victims navigate through this tragedy, providing essential post-assault care and connection with community resources and support services,” Canton said.

These specially trained health professionals are found in many of Avera’s ERs, sometimes available 24/7 to help these victims. The program continues to grow through grant support.

Support for sexual assault survivors

SANE nurses help patients across the Avera system either in person or using virtual visits. They use an approach specialized to support patients physically and emotionally. They also ensure evidence is gathered properly so it can be used to seek justice. The program reflects Avera’s mission to serve all peoples and communities, no matter what they face.

“There’s a wide range of emotion in those moments, from confusion to anger to shame to regret. They are all completely normal,” Canton said. “We try to start the process of healing and help patients navigate through this tragedy.”

The SANE program’s goals are to help support victims in any way they need – whether the victim was raped or harmed in another way.

Getting help and understanding from someone who understands can be difficult in rural communities that may not always have a SANE-trained nurse on staff.

Expansion of SANE at Avera

This latest grant will allow Avera to make more of these specialists available at numerous rural sites, both in person and via telemedicine.

The grant will fund training both virtually and in person, as well as a SANE preceptorship program and trauma-specific training for mental health professionals. In collaboration with The Compass Center, caregivers will receive formal support and resources for caring for interpersonal violence victims, which will help improve their resilience. Another aspect of the grant is offering additional support services and resources to victims.

“We hope to significantly increase the number of SANE-trained nurses at Avera facilities. This in turn will help reduce or eliminate any travel required for victims, as well as time spent waiting to receive care, ultimately improving patient outcomes and healing,” Canton said.

Project sites include Sioux Falls, Yankton, Mitchell, Pierre and Aberdeen in South Dakota and Marshall, Minnesota. Additional sites will be selected each year, including partners from Indian Health Service and hospitals in neighboring states.

What SANE RNs do for assault victims

Avera’s SANE nurses play a vital role, but the details of their work are sometimes lesser known. The duties of RNs in this role may include the following, depending on the patient’s wishes:

• Meet with patients who have experienced interpersonal violence to provide basic triage. Through a brief medical evaluation, they determine whether patients need emergency or other specialized medical care.
• Conduct a medical forensic examination, cataloging evidence of physical or sexual abuse that may be used in a court case or police proceedings.
• Obtain a medical forensic history with the victim to gain information about incident or incidents.
• Collect potential specimens, DNA samples, clothing, trace evidence and photographs of injuries.
• Complete a detailed physical examination.

Their priority is straightforward: Ensure each patient receives necessary medical care, as well as proper guidance and support throughout any treatments.

The nurses also focus on preventing health complications such as STIs, unintended pregnancy, HIV, suicide attempts – all issues shown to come with trauma.

Canton said awareness of this national problem must grow.

In South Dakota, there were 67.1 interpersonal violence victims for every 100,000 people in 2020. The rate fell slightly from the previous year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only Alaska at 154.8 per 100,000 and Arkansas at 73.5 had more. The national rate in 2020 was 38.4. South Dakota has remained above the national rate since 1992.

“Everyone should realize what we’re up against; education about sexual assault with young people is vital,” Canton said. “Sexual assault happens to all races, socioeconomic groups – it happens to us, to someone we know and love.”

Learn more about Avera at AveraBalance.org.