Wisconsin Department of Justice

Medical /Forensic Nurse

A Medical /forensic nurse is a nurse who provides specialized care for patients who are victims and/or perpetrators of trauma. The role of the Medical forensic nurses includes an understanding of violence and the systems work of advocacy and the legal system. The Medical/Forensic nurse has skills in injury identification, evaluation and documentation, and referral. After attending to a patient’s immediate medical needs, a forensic nurse often collects physical evidence, provides medical testimony in court, and consults with legal authorities. Most Wisconsin communities have SANE programs that serve several counties, as well as SANEs who perform exams on victims who travel from rural counties. There is a mobile SANE program that travels to victims in one of the most rural counties in Wisconsin.

specialized care encourages victims to seek help after an assault

SANE programs provide specialized medical care in the wake of a sexual assault that has the potential to devastate a victim’s mental and physical health for years to come.  At this most vulnerable time in a victim’s life, it is critical that the health care responder be a highly trained specialist prepared to both minister to the victim’s medical needs and to collect physical evidence in a sensitive but thorough manner.  Providing such specialized care encourages victims to seek help after an assault, and encouraging victims to seek help after an assault is good for the entire community.

 

Sexual Assault Medical/Forensic Examiner Training

Experts in the state created the Sexual Assault Examiner curriculum, which comprises a six-day training.  The recommendation for practice in Wisconsin is the completion of six days of didactic and clinical skills training, using educational guidelines established by the IAFN. Additional recommendations include the completion of clinical examinations, medical-forensic examinations and multi-disciplinary components.