SANE-A case studies
SANE-A · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner – Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) credential is a professional certification for registered nurses who provide forensic-examiner care to patients aged roughly 13 and older after sexual assault, and for related patients such as those who disclose intimate partner violence, strangulation, or drug-facilitated assault. It signals that a nurse has met a knowledge standard beyond basic licensure: patient-centered, trauma-informed examination, injury identification and documentation, evidence collection and chain of custody, medical stabilization, pregnancy and STI/HIV prophylaxis, and the legal and courtroom responsibilities that follow. The SANE-A case studies are 5 cases and about 3,587 words.
1Hoarse Voice, No Marks: Strangulation at 26 Weeks' Gestation
A 29-year-old woman at 26 weeks' gestation presents to the ED at 09:00, roughly 18 hours after her partner placed both hands around her neck for an estimated 20 seconds during an argument. She did not lose consciousness.
727 words, about 4 min240 Hours, Two Showers, and a Request to Collect "Everything"
A 22-year-old college student presents at 14:00 on a Sunday, about 40 hours after an assault by an acquaintance. She showered twice, brushed her teeth, and laundered the clothing she wore.
706 words, about 4 min368 Hours After Exposure: nPEP, Emergency Contraception, and a Fever
A 34-year-old woman presents to the ED at 23:40, 68 hours after a condom broke during receptive vaginal and anal intercourse with a partner who disclosed afterward that he is HIV-positive and has not been taking medication. She is not using contraception and her last menstrual period was 12 days ago.
668 words, about 3 min4"Uncooperative" and "Consistent With Struggle": Two Sentences That Will Be Read Aloud
A SANE examines a 41-year-old woman who first told the triage nurse the sex was consensual, then disclosed in the exam room that she was pressured and held down. She declines photographs of bruising on her inner thighs, saying she fears they will "end up on the internet." She has no fractures and mild tenderness.
701 words, about 4 min5"These Things Are Handled at Home": A 16-Year-Old, Her Mother, and the Interpreter Chair
A 16-year-old girl is brought to the ED by her mother after a school counselor reported a disclosure. The patient speaks mostly Spanish; the mother insists on interpreting and answers most questions for her daughter.
785 words, about 4 min