The SANE course, supported by the US Department of Justice, is a 40-hour course for experienced Registered Nurses. Nurses who complete the course are able to perform the nursing/forensic episode of care for the sexual assault victim in the Emergency Department and other areas of the Medical Agency. Nurses are also prepared to take the Certification Exam offered through the International Association of Forensic Nurses. This course has been available in Mississippi for seventeen years and is a joint effort with the MS Department of Public Safety, Department of Health, and The Office of the Attorney General. The model has been very successful in as it frees the attending physician, provides a nurse with expertise, and moves patients through the episode of care in a more efficient way. In cases that go to court, the physician is also freed from testifying, and the nurse is specially trained to do so.
