ISP trains over 250 sexual assault nurse examiners
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The following is a news release and photo from Idaho State Police.
MERIDIAN — The Idaho State Police is proud to announce the successful completion of its initiative to train 250 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE), a significant achievement in supporting survivors of sexual assault throughout Idaho.
Launched in September 2017, the “SANE250” initiative set out with the goal of training 250 nurses to provide medical forensic examinations, enhancing accessibility to care for sexual assault survivors.
With the dedication of these 251 nurses who have completed the rigorous SANE training program, high-quality medical and forensic support is now available to more survivors all over Idaho. This milestone underscores Idaho’s commitment to expanding its network of healthcare professionals trained to respond to sexual violence, thereby reducing the distance and time survivors need to travel for essential services.
“The success of this program is a reflection of our commitment to providing compassionate and specialized care to survivors of sexual assault,” said Deb Wetherelt, Director of the SANE Program. Expressing pride in the program’s progress, “Reaching this milestone means more survivors across Idaho, especially in rural areas, can get the care they need sooner and closer to home.”
The SANE training covers a comprehensive range of topics critical for performing medical forensic exams and supporting survivors, including:
- The history of forensic nursing
- Standards and ethics of forensic nursing
- Trauma-response behaviors and trauma-informed care
- Evidence collection, forensic photography, and chain of custody
- Expert testimony and collaboration with law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates
The initiative’s goal extends beyond training nurses. It also aims to increase the number of sites equipped to collect sexual assault evidence. ISP’s next phase includes:
- Establishing more Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs).
- Adding more collection sites.
- Ensuring these sites are fully staffed, with 24/7 on-call availability where needed.
Matthew Gamette, ISP Laboratory System Director, emphasized the importance of ongoing efforts, particularly in rural communities. He stated, “We’re committed to continuing our work throughout Idaho, ensuring access to trained medical professionals is vital, especially in rural areas. With every new nurse we train and every site we equip, we make a difference in how survivors experience medical care and forensic examination. Our mission is to ensure that no one has to travel far to receive these critical services and that every survivor is treated with the utmost professionalism, compassion, and medical skill.”
ISP is organizing additional training, focusing on expanding Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART) across the state and enhancing site availability for around-the-clock support. For more information on upcoming trainings, visit ISP’s calendar of events.
Reaching this milestone marks the beginning of Phase Two for the ISP Forensic Nursing Program, ensuring that Idaho continues to make strides in supporting survivors and strengthening collaboration among healthcare providers, law enforcement, and victim advocates. This includes training more SANE nurses, setting up a pediatric SANE nurse training program, and ensuring that functional SART teams are supported all over Idaho.