How Avera SANE Nurses Help Sexual Assault Victims Report and Heal

Sexual assault is a real thing, and it happens right here in the Midwest. In fact, South Dakota, Minnesota Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota all have a higher sexual assault rate per capita than New York.

Avera continues to invest resources in helping sexual assault – sometimes called interpersonal violence – and human trafficking patients get the care they need in an emergency room, during a difficult setting, both physically and mentally.

Specially trained health professionals, called sexual assault nurse examiners, or SANEs, are located in many of Avera’s ERs, sometimes available 24/7 to help these victims. The program continues to grow through grant support.

“Interpersonal violence is really happening, right here in the Midwest,” said Jen Canton, MSN, RN, Avera’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) supervisor. “It’s not something we can ignore, even if it’s hard to discuss.”

Support for Sexual Assault Survivors

SANE nurses help patients across the Avera system either in-person or using virtual visits. They use an approach specialized to support patients physically and emotionally. They also ensure evidence is gathered properly so it can be used to seek justice. The program reflects Avera’s mission to serve all peoples and communities, no matter what they face.

“There’s a wide range of emotion in those moments, from confusion to anger to shame to regret. They are all completely normal,” Canton said. “We try to start the process of healing and help patients navigate through this tragedy.”

The SANE program’s goals are to help support victims in any way they need – whether the victim was raped or harmed in another way.

Getting help and understanding from someone who understands can be difficult in rural communities who may not always have a SANE trained nurse on staff. The fact a victim reports his or her incident miles away from a large health center means the Avera SANE team must ensure all patients get the same care. SANE programming is an important part of the Avera’s rural health initiative.

What SANE RNs Do for Assault Victims

“Every patient – in every place, across the Avera service area – is priority,” Canton said. “Recent funding means we’ll have more means to achieve this goal.”

Avera received a grant to enhance the availability of trained SANE staff for victims. This will allow Avera to make more of these specialists available at numerous rural sites, both in person and via telemedicine.

Avera's SANE nurses play a vital role, but the details of their work are sometimes lesser known. The duties of RNs in this role may include the following, depending on the patient’s wishes:

• Meet with patients who have experienced interpersonal violence to provide basic triage. Through a brief medical evaluation, they determine whether patients need emergency or other specialized medical care.
• Conduct a medical-forensic examination cataloging evidence of physical or sexual abuse that may be used in a court case or police proceedings.
• Obtain a medical-forensic history with the victim, to gain information about the incident or incidents.
• Collect potential specimens, DNA samples, clothing, trace evidence and photographs of injuries.
• Complete a detailed physical examination.

Their priority is straightforward: ensure each patient receives necessary medical care as well as proper guidance and support throughout any treatments.

“We are trying to support the patient and start their healing journey in whatever way they want,” Canton said. “We also focus on preventing health complications such as STIs, HIV, suicide attempts – all issues shown to come with trauma.”

Preventing Sexual Violence Begins With Each of Us

Canton said awareness of this national problem must grow.

“Everyone should realize what we’re up against; education about sexual assault with young people is vital” she said. “Sexual assault happens to all races, socioeconomic groups – it happens to us, to someone we know and love.”

Canton said interpersonal violence affects not only the individual to whom it occurs, but to everyone around them.

Teaching children more about consent, respect and accountability is a good place to start. “We must, if we want less sexual assault in our society,” she said. “We also need to hold people accountable for their actions.”

In South Dakota, there were 67.1 interpersonal violence victims for every 100,000 people in 2020. The rate fell slightly from the previous year due to the pandemic. Only Alaska and Arkansas (154.8 and 73.5 per 100,000, respectively) had more. The national rate in 2020 was 38.4. South Dakota has remained above the national rate since 1992.

“Abuse can be passed from generation to generation,” said Canton. “We have to teach respect and empathy – for all people – to achieve the mindset change we need. We can’t expect young people to respect others if they don’t see parents or other adults model it.” Canton said conversations on the topic are going to be tense – but necessary.

Learn more about Avera’s SANE program.

Counseling services are also available for victims of sexual assault or human trafficking. Learn more about Avera’s behavioral health resources.