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SOUTH SANES FAQ

Most Commonly Asked Questions

  • What is the difference between SANE education vs. the SANE subspecialty?
    • SANE education/training is the Cornerstone of both programs and the purpose of the HRSA funding directly aims to increase the number of SANE nurses who are trained, certified and available everywhere for patients. There are different options for education.
    • Community SANE Course/Training: For RNs with two (2) years’ experience who desire only entry level SANE education/training, a stipend supported, community pathway is available. This path includes support for initial didactic CE (approved by ANCC). This is offered online via different SANE specialized vendors, e.g. IAFN, AFN. The RN chooses! Once the entry level CE is completed, the RN may apply for Clinical Immersion (Simulation---see dates posted) offered as a separate CE program (e.g. 16 hours ANCC approved).
    • Post Masters’ Certificate SANE Course/Training (Advanced Forensic Nursing Sub-specialty): Entry level SANE education/training is included in the sub-specialty as a basis (and requirement) to completing the nine hours sub-specialty, Advanced Forensic Nursing Care. Students enrolled in the sub-specialty must be USA graduate or post-graduate/doctoral students. Pursuing the sub-specialty include the requirement of SANE training for these students who may not have received recent IAFN course approved SANE didactic education. The SANE training/education (certificate of completion) indicates that one has completed either the Pediatric, Adult, or Combined SANE A and SANE P course (IAFN). This is a requirement of the NU 502 clinical course.
  • Does someone have to be SANE trained already to enter the sub-specialty?
    • No. It is not necessary to already be SANE trained to start with the first course. NU 500, Exploring Cultures of Sexual Assault Victim Populations Across the Lifespan.
  • It appeared that one can pursue the SANE education via the website alone.
    • Correct. Students interested in only SANE training may choose this option if they are not graduate students enrolled in a program or specifically seeking the sub-specialty education or if they only desire SANE education and not the sub-specialty distinction. The sub-specialty, Advanced Forensic Nursing Care, is a more comprehensive training program designed only for RNs with a Masters’ or higher degree OR in conjunction with a student’s pursuit of a Masters’ in nursing. Follow up with the CON Admissions advisor for the program, Ms. Brea Moseley or Lisa Brock and your faculty adviser. You may also refer to the instructions letter for more information.
  • What are the qualifications for a student stipend? Is there a separate application to take advantage of this part of the program?
    • Qualifications include 1) An RN with two (2) years’ experience who is seeking SANE training 2) An RN (with two (2) years of experience) who intends to or already practices in an area that provides victim centered
      care after sexual assault 3) An RN (with two (2) years of experience) who resides or practices in a rural area or works with underserved populations (health department).
    • To express interest in the stipend, you should complete the pre-enrollment form posted on the College of Nursing website. Then notify the SANE program office at anesanegrant@southalabama.edu or send me a follow up email. Contact anesanegrant@southalabama.edu to request more information or assistance. These monies can be requested as long as they are available and are intended to support SANE training and Skills, SANE certification exam preparation and the certification exam. The certification exam cannot be taken until the RN has achieved 300 hours of clinical in an area with a focus on sexual assault victimization (See IAFN certification on the website www.iafn.org).
  • What textbooks are required? 
    • o The required textbooks for the sub-specialty program will be available through the biomedical library online. You don’t need to purchase at this time. I am also including the recommended texts for NU 500 which are not required, but may be referenced. NOTE:  Faculty teaching the remaining courses may recommend additional texts.  Textbooks for NU 500 are:  REQUIRED TEXTS (available online through the biomedical library):  Giardino, A. P., Faugno, D. K., Spencer, M. J., Weaver, M., & Speck, P. M. (2017). Sexual Assault Victimization Across the Life Span (2nd ed.). Florissant, MO:  STM Learning, Inc.  RECOMMENDED
      TEXT(S):  McFarland, M., & Wehbe-Alamah, H., (2018). Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing:  Concepts, Theories, Research, and Practice, 4th ed., McGraw Hill. Since the sub-specialty was only recently approved, they may not be on the booklist.
  • I’m a recent graduate from USA and I’m looking into sub-specialty training. I have been a SANE in the past and I’m interested in the advanced forensic nursing care sub-specialty offered at USA. Can you can tell me more?
    • USA received a HRSA grant to support SANE training and also certification. In addition, we have developed a subspecialty consisting of five courses ( nine hours) of post graduate or graduate level content. The sub-specialty includes an opportunity for SANE training per the current national guidelines by IAFN and ANA for forensic nursing. It is available in the second of the five courses, NU 502, the clinical course. Some students pursuing the sub-specialty may already have been SANE trained. If their training is recent (last year or so) and it was obtained through an IAFN approved course, the student would not need to pursue the online SANE training.  However, specific situations should be discussed with the course director. If the student’s education is “stale” and particularly if you have not gone on to practice as a SANE, you would need to retake the SANE training as offered by IAFN through the USA ANE/SANE program. Students who complete the ANCC IAFN approved course receive a certificate of completion and are eligible for the skills lab, a second educational offering (somewhat like the mega code of ACLS) where you are taught by GTAs (Gynecological Teaching Associates) about the clinical pearls of the reproductive exam and current relevant topics important to nursing care after sexual assault. The 16 hour skills training also occurs under the NU 502 auspices for students enrolled. In addition, all students will participate in an eight-hour complex scenario, telehealth and preceptor seminar of eight hours. The 16 hour skills must be attended live. However, IAFN offers Skills Training across the country and it may be that one could take this part of the training somewhere closer to home. Once the student is current on their SANE training they are ready to complete the clinical course NU 502 which involves approximately a 40 clock hour week with a SANE trained preceptor. We can assist with preceptor matching if the student cannot locate their own match.
    • The additional four courses are NU 500 (the first course, required to be completed first with or without the co-requisite NU 502), NU 503, NU 504, NU 505 rounding out the program and all two hour courses. Once NU 500 is taken, the others can be taken in any order NU 503-505 but NU 502 must be added if it was not taken with NU 500 as a co-requisite.
  • My current plan is to take care of adults but is it possible to be dually educated in adults and children?
    • Once a student achieves SANE A or SANE P (pediatric course is available per IAFN, but at this time there is not a dual course SANE A and SANE P).
  • Exactly how long does it take to complete the online didactic IAFN course for SANE education
    • The course is worth 41 hours ANCC approved and the student generally can complete it in three to twelve weeks.  However, currently, IAFN allows the student access to the course for one full year once they have completed. The skills lab is 16 hours.
  • How many classes will I have to take if I decide to pursue the forensic post-graduate certificate
    • The sub-specialty requires 5 courses to total nine hours. Successful completion ensures a transcript distinction.
  • Am I eligible to apply for the Forensic sub-specialty classes?
    • Any current graduate student is able to add this sub-specialty to their curriculum schedule. We only ask that you refer to your academic advisor to receive an updated curriculum schedule.
    • Students who are not currently in our program must apply for admission as a Post Graduate Certificate student to complete the courses for credit. This means they will need to already have a Master of Science in Nursing degree and be a Registered Nurse. Our current application procedures will apply to these Post Graduate Certificate students. Please have them refer to our MSN Admission webpage at https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/msn/msnadmiss.html and our MSN Application webpage at https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/msn/msnapplic.html for details.
    • If students have any questions, they can contact Mrs. Brea Mosley or Lisa Brock at congradapp@southalabama.edu.
  • I am currently a nurse practitioner and enrolled in the DNP program. I wasn’t clear which option is more appropriate for me.  How is the training different?
    • If you are already pursuing the DNP, and are interested in forensic nursing, I would suggest you consider the graduate option which earns you a sub-specialty distinction of Advanced Forensic Nursing Care (of the sexually victimized) on your transcript. This is a forever achievement that will set you apart. Since you are already a graduate student, it would be a matter of adding the courses (five) to your schedule. The first course NU 500 is offered in the Fall and Spring. All five of the courses are offered in the Spring, but NU 500 must be taken first. If you choose, you can take NU 502 with NU 500. After that, you can choose to take any of the remaining three courses in any order. At this time, we cannot offer NU 502 in the fall as originally planned. The NU 502 clinical course. The clinical only requires 60 hours and he SANE training (16 hours) can be a part of that. We (USA) incorporates an additional 8 hours of specific case scenarios involving SANE care, preceptor development and telehealth.
    • Any current graduate student or RN with a Master’s or higher,  is able to add the sub-specialty to their curriculum schedule. Please reach out to your academic advisor to receive an updated curriculum schedule where you can add the course(s) you are interested in. Remember that NU 500 must be the first course you take. You should not need to “apply” to the university since you are already in the program. Mrs. Brea Mosley or Lisa Brock at congradapp@southalabama.edu should be able to assist you with specific questions re:  scheduling.
  • I am currently enrolled in the WHNP program at South, with a projected graduation of Fall 2020. I would love to do the post-grad certificate, but I am worried that adding that to my current course load is unrealistic.
    • This is true. It is up to the individual student whether they are comfortable with adding the nine house sub-specialty. I can assure that there is a great deal of content, but that the sub-specialty is designed for success and that faculty will be supportive of your completion. It is not something you would want to just sign up for and not be able to absorb the content and participate.
    • There is also a clinical requirement of 60 hours in NU 502 (some of which will be composed of skills lab and case scenarios=24 for the sub-specialty). That would leave about one week additional (36 hours) of real time in a preceptor based setting. There is a lot of flexibility in what type of clinical is acceptable, but we do want your preceptor to be a SANE.
  • Is there an end date for the grant/certificate program?
    • Not at this time that I am aware of…however, this requires some clarification. We designed the program as a 2-3 semester program. I will need to check with administration regarding whether we can extend and for how long and under what terms.
  • Since I am enrolled at South, am I not allowed to do Option 1 (the Community RN option)?
    • Of course, you can pursue “only” the SANE didactic (and skills lab) if you desire. Didactic and Skills are two separate offerings and didactic has to be completed first. The requirements for the SANE didactic (through IAFN) are only that you have had 2 years of RN experience and intend to see patients who have experienced sexual assault. You can start the SANE education at almost any time.  There are current deadlines for registering for the next class.  Reach out to T. Patin at tpatin@southalabama.edu for more information. The SANE didactic course typically takes at least 3-4 weeks of real dedication to complete the 41-hour course. It is set up for a twelve week period for completion.  Classes form regularly, at least one per semester.
    • The Skills lab is a clinical component and recommended. It is a separate CE (ANCC approved like the didactic) of 16 hours taught live on campus using GTA’s (gynecological teaching associates). The next Skills lab will occur on campus in April.  There will be regular skills lab offered
      (approximately three per year) but I do not know the dates. Alison Rudd, USA Sim Center, is the coordinator.
    • To attend the skills lab, you have to show proof of completion of the 41 hour IAFN didactic to take the course.
  • If I choose to pursue the post-grad certificate, are there stipends available for that option?
    • The stipends are to reimburse your cost to study SANE education/skills related to SANE A or SANE P preparation (your choice). As available, the stipends can cover expenses to attend the skills lab training in Mobile which requires an overnight stay. I don’t think the grant would cover air fare. You could ask but not likely. If not too unrealistic (within 200 miles or so), mileage can be reimbursed at the federal rate for the Skills training too. The grant does not cover meals.