The mission of the SANE program is to strive to meet the immediate medical and forensic needs of sexual assault victims in our community while providing professional, compassionate care.
What is SANE?
SANE stands for sexual assault nurse examiner. SANEs are registered nurses who have received specialized training to examine victims of sexual assault.
How does the SANE program work?
When victims of sexual assault first arrive at MeritCare's Emergency Center (EC), a triage nurse will check vital signs and ask some simple questions about the person's immediate needs. If there are urgent injuries, one of MeritCare's Emergency Center doctors will examine and treat those injuries. The on-call SANE will be contacted and will respond in a short amount of time.
Sexual assault nurse examiners care for sexual assault victims that are ages 13 and older. Children ages 12 and younger will be examined by a pediatrician.
The SANEs collaborate with the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center advocates to provide counseling support, with Fargo Cass Public Health to provide follow-up care, and with law enforcement to assist in cases of legal prosecution.
What does the SANE do?
The sexual assault nurse examiner will ask questions about the assault, listen to you and explain your options.
Specifically, the SANE can:
- Examine and care for minor injuries; consult with the Emergency Center doctor about any injury or illness concerns.
- Collect evidence that may be used in court to prosecute the person who assaulted you.
- Provide information and medication to prevent pregnancy.
- Provide information and treatment to help prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Cost of services
The cost of the sexual assault exam will be billed to your insurance company. In North Dakota and Minnesota, victims who cooperate with law enforcement are eligible to be compensated for the cost of these services. If the assault occurred in North Dakota, the sexual assault exam will be billed to the North Dakota Department of Health/STOP Violence Against Women Program. In Minnesota, the cost of the sexual assault exam will be billed to the county in which the assault occurred.
Reporting requirements
SANEs are required under N.D. law to report to local law enforcement sexual assaults which may have caused injury. However, the victim has the right to choose to have evidence collected and to decide whether to cooperate with law enforcement by providing information.
Information about sexual assault
Did you know?
- One in three females and one in six males will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
- Most sexual assault victims know their attacker (relative, friend, acquaintance).
- Sexual assault, rape and incest are all acts of violence, not acts of sexual intimacy.
- Victims often experience fear, guilt, shock, numbness, anxiety, shame, disbelief, anger or nothing at all. These are all normal reactions.
- Sexual assault is a crime of violence, anger and control that hurts both the victim and those who love them.
- Sexual assault is not the victim's fault.
- Anyone can become a victim of sexual assault, regardless of age, race or income level.
- Sexual assault may be physical or non-physical and includes rape, attempted rape, child molestation, incest and sexual harassment.
- Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact or attention achieved by force, threats, bribes, manipulation, pressure, tricks or violence.
- Decisions made by the victim after a sexual assault are difficult; there are no right answers, only what is right for that person. Therefore, it's important for the victim to get the support they need and deserve.
Funding
MeritCare's SANE program is funded, in part, by MeritCare and the North Dakota Department of Health/STOP Violence Against Women program.
Health Library
Learn more about the treatment of sexual assault and abuse in the health library.