Forensic Examiner Services: Training
St. Peter's Crime Victim Services Statewide Forensic Examiner Training Program offers Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) training to healthcare professionals across New York State. Approved by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), our courses are open to NYS-licensed registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians.
Topics covered in our trainings include:
- caring for your patient population (adult/adolescent vs. pediatric)
- collecting medical and assault history
- patient assessment
- collecting sexual assault evidence
- documentation of findings
- photographing for documentation
- tools to assist with examination
- testing and treatment
- multidisciplinary teamwork
- advocacy
Adolescent/Adult Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Training
This free course prepares participants to offer specialized forensic medical care to adults and adolescents (12 years and older) after an experience of sexual assault. Over the course of 40 hours, our in-person instruction offers the unique opportunity for students to learn, practice, and refine forensic nursing skills through hands-on instruction; this includes using specialty equipment, practicing photography, and learning exam techniques from experienced examiners. Successful completion of a this course and a preceptorship will make a participant eligible for NYSAFE certification through NY Department of Health. After practicing in the SANE role for 300 hours, participants are eligible to become board certified as a SANE-A (Adult/Adolescent) through the IAFN. For adult/adolescent-certified SANEs, our program also offers no-cost Competency Days each year at which trained SANEs are able to refine their skills.
Pediatric Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Training
This course prepares participants to meet the sensitive needs of pediatric survivors of sexual violence (11 years old and younger) through the advanced practice of pediatric forensic nursing. Offered twice per year in the Spring (virtually) and Fall (in-person), this course offers participants a unique opportunity to learn from experienced pediatric forensic examiners about the complex dynamics of child sexual abuse/exploitation, skill development in forensic medical exam techniques, and best practices in working with young survivors of abuse. Following successful completion of the 40-hour didactic course, 3-day clinical, and a 50-exam preceptorship, participants are are eligible to become board certified as a SANE-P (Pediatric) through the IAFN and see patients independently in both acute care and child advocacy center settings.
For information about upcoming training opportunities, please contact forensictraining@sphp.com
The speakers and planners of this program have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest.