UArizona Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program

Our program aims to improve awareness around sexual assault, increase available resources and training, and expand service locations, providing support for SANE training, certification, and sexual assault programs throughout Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands.

Funding Opportunities available:

SANE Didactic course(s) and/or clinical skills training (Open Now)
SANE Certification Exam (Ongoing)
UArizona DNP Students SANE-Adult (Open Now)
Sexual Assault Program Assistance

Steps to become a SANE

Step One: Complete the online 41-hour SANE-Adult Didactic course and/or the 43-hour SANE-Pediatric Didactic course. Each course must be completed within a 3-month period.

Step Two: Acquire clinical skills training. Enroll or find a program depending on the state. Flexibility and persistence are needed to obtain clinical skills since there is no standard way (this may involve traveling to another city or nearby state).

Step Three: Throughout the process, connect with local sexual assault programs for employment opportunities and begin shadowing/precepting.

Note: Once you complete your didactic education and clinical skills training, you will be eligible to apply to work as a SANE in your community. You will receive a certificate of completion from IAFN once you complete their post-eduction survey. You then are required to work a minimum of 300 hours as a SANE (for both SANE-A and SANE-P) before you can take the SANE certification exam.

The UArizona SANE Program provides support to Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Arizona, Hawai'i, and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands

We provide funding for:

Completing the online 41-hour SANE-Adult Didactic course and/or the 43-hour SAND-Pediatric Didactic course.
Acquiring clinical skills training.
SANE Certification Exam.

Additionally, we offer help and guidance for:

Determining the optimal approach to acquiring clinical skills training by enrolling in or finding a program based on the state.
Connecting with local sexual assault programs for employment opportunities and initiating shadowing/precepting.

For Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

Funding for SANE Didactic course(s) and/or clinical skills training

Fill out the UArizona SANE Funding application available below. Before applying, ensure you have the following documents ready to upload:

One-page letter of interest demonstrating the ability and desire to practice as a SANE after training.
Your resume/CV
A letter of support from a current or previous employer (Draft found here).

Contact Form

SANE Certification Exam (Now Closed)

Available to SANEs in Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands.

For nurses who have achieved the highest standards of forensic nursing for sexual assault nurse examiners through training and practice.

Certification Exam Application Requirements/Considerations:

Before applying, please carefully review the essential exam information.

Application Cycles: We conduct two application cycles annually, one in the spring and another in the fall.

Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the exam:

For SANE-A, you must have a minimum of 2 years of practice as an RN.
For SANE-P, a minimum of 3 years of RN practice is required.

Additional Requirements: In addition to the eligibility criteria, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Complete a mimimun 40-hour SANE didactic course from an accredited provider (Certificate must be uploaded with your funding application).
Successfully complete a SANE clinical preceptorship.
Accumulate 300 hours of SANE-related practice within the past 3 years, with at least 200 hours specifically with the intended exam population. SANE-related practice includes providing patient care, taking on-call shifts (even if not seeing a patient), precepting/teaching, consulting, and engaging in peer review.

UArizona DNP Students SANE-Adult (Now Closed)

*Must currently be in your clinical year in the UArizona DNP program to apply.*

Timeline:

Applications are due March 30th
Acceptance emails will be send out on April 15th
Enrollment in 41-hour didactic training in April (Must complete within a 3 month period ahead of clinical skills training)
Attend a 2 ½ day clinical skills training session (mid-July)

PMHNP, AGACNP, FNP, and NM 40 simulation hours will be provided. Please contact Specialty Coordinator for more information.

Sexual Assault Program Assistance

Our program has limited funding to reimburse sexual assault programs up to $5,000 for the cost of supplies and equipment to enhance their program. Available to programs in Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the USAPI.

Covered items include but are not limited to:

Computers
Cameras
Alternate light source
Training materials such as mannequins or books
Exam tables

Apply Now

The University of Arizona College of Nursing received a three-year continuation grant through HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) to continue expanding sexual assault response services in rural and medically underserved areas of Region 9 (Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and the United States Affiliated Pacific Islands).

The Western Region Public Health Training Center at the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, in collaboration with the UArizona College of Nursing, received the initial three-year grant from 2018 to 2021 and successfully trained and certified nurses throughout Region 9.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under T96HP32508, “Advanced Nurse Education Sexual Nurse Assault Examiner program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.