CTH Hosts Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training

(Carson City, Nev.)- Carson Tahoe Health was selected by the International Order of Forensic Nurses as the West Coast site for the clinical portion of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training course. The training took place on November 18 and 19 at the Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center where fifteen nurses were certified, four of which are employed by Carson Tahoe Health.

SANE refers to a registered nurse who has been specially trained to provide comprehensive care to sexual assault patients in a medical environment. These nurses receive specific training in evidence collection techniques including how to gather physical evidence such as DNA, or nail fibers and hair fibers in sexual assault cases. In many criminal cases, the evidence found can increase the chances of a conviction and provide peace of mind to victims of sexual assault.

“SANE training provides a unique and necessary opportunity for nurses in our area to obtain the high-level of skill needed to provide timely, compassionate and thorough care to sexual assault victims,” said Joni Maestretti, Emergency Department Manager. “We are fortunate that Carson Tahoe Health has these expanded resources to better serve the critical needs of these patients.”

The SANE training was 100 percent grant funded and took more than two years to arrange. Carson Tahoe Health will partner with Advocates to End Domestic Violence as well as law enforcement officials in performing these high quality exams. For more information about SANE training visit, www.iafn.org.

About Carson Tahoe Health
Carson Tahoe Health is a local, not-for-profit healthcare system serving patients in Northern Nevada and California since 1949. With a wide and far-reaching primary service area, CTH serves multiple counties with an 80-acre medical campus located in north Carson City.  A 1446-bed regional medical center offers 24-hour emergency care, dedicated medical and surgical units, comprehensive cardiac surgery, state-of-the-art imaging, five-star women and children’s center and inpatient rehabilitation. CTH also offers a fully accredited cancer center, multiple outpatient locations, primary care clinics and urgent and retail clinics.