Community Corner
NOVA plans county-wide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program
In collaboration with BCCC, new program offers first 5-day training session to RNs starting April 21.
Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA), in collaboration with healthcare providers, law enforcement and the district attorney’s office, is developing a centralized Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program to deliver specialized health care and forensic services at Bucks County emergency rooms to adults and adolescents who are victims of sexual assault.
Although Bucks County has had SANE nurses for over 20 years, this new program will be coordinated through NOVA so as to enhance coverage for sexual assault victims who need a rape exam. “We believe NOVA, with its 40-plus years of helping victims and its experience in providing services in collaboration with our various partners, is in the best position to coordinate this initiative,” said Debbie Nugent, MS, RN, SANE program coordinator.
This new program establishes a need for registered nurses (RNs) who are specially trained in performing forensic medical-legal exams. To meet this need, Bucks County Community College (BCCC), in association with NOVA, is offering a 40-hour, 5-day course designed to provide basic knowledge of the role of the SANE nurse. The first session will run Tuesdays and Wednesdays, April 21, 22, 28, 29 and May 5, from 8am to 4:30pm.
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In addition to instruction provided by the course coordinator, Cheyenne Rothermel, MSN, BSN, CEN, PLNC, SANE-A, other featured speakers will cover topics including victim advocacy and counseling, human trafficking, the role of law enforcement and the crime lab, the criminal prosecution process and more. The final day of training will take place at the Bucks County Justice Center where nurses will receive instruction on court testimony and observe a mock trial.
An application has been submitted to the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association for 35 contact hours.
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Cost for the training is $500 and includes all training materials, a continental breakfast and lunch. To register, please call BCCC at 215.968. 8409 Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30, or contact Janet Baker, director, Center for Allied Health, at Janet.baker@bucks.edu or 215.968.8324.
For more information on the centralized SANE program and scholarship opportunities, please contact Debbie Nugent, SANE program coordinator, at 215.343.6543 or debbie@novabucks.org.
Shown: Cheyenne Rothermel, MSN, BSN, CEN, PLNC, SANE-A, course coordinator for the new SANE program
