VC-1001-A
THE SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION: ADULT AND ADOLESCENT
(For the Healthcare Professional)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This comprehensive 40-hour sexual assault examiner didactic (SAE, SANE, FNE) training program is designed to prepare registered nurses and other qualified health care professionals to conduct the forensic examination on victims of sexual assault and alleged perpetrators. The course content includes background information and demographics of sexual assault, introduction to pertinent anatomy and physiology, forensic terminology for documentation, techniques for identification of traumatized tissue including use of toluidine blue dye, use of Wood's Lamp and other alternate light sources, photographic documentation including use of colposcope imaging, collection, handling and preservation of physical evidence and biological specimens, evidentiary chain of custody procedures, assessment and management of injuries and prophylaxis for health risks, role of victim advocates, strategies for crisis intervention, medical and forensic documentation procedures, and preparation for the forensic examiner's role in the judicial process including depositions and courtroom testimony.
The participant must also complete an additional separate 45-hour clinical and non clinical internship. This internship includes observations and supervised practice in all essential elements of the forensic sexual assault examination, including clinical experiences requiring speculum examinations, observations of law enforcement field operations (ride-a-long), case management procedures of a prosecutorial agency (District Attorney), witness evidentiary testimony given in a criminal court proceeding, forensic procedures at the offices of the public medical examiner, crime laboratory or coroner, and monitoring of a sexual assault victim advocacy program. All requirements for the internship must be fulfilled within 6 months after successful completion of the course. Clinical competency documentation forms and instructions can be downloaded prior to initiation of the internship.
Instructors are available throughout the term of the course and will assist in linking participants to professional resources within their own communities for additional learning. It is the sole responsibility of the participant to arrange for a local internship. All resources must be approved by the course instructor prior to initiation of the internship. Upon successful completion of the didactic portion of the course and its internship, a Certificate of Completion will be issued for the Sexual Assault Examination: Adult and Adolescent.
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Cari Caruso, RN SANE-A, has been a registered nurse since 1974. Her experience is in emergency department, pediatrics, women's health, GI laboratory and post-surgery. Her introduction into sexual assault began in 1990. Ms. Caruso has worked in multiple sexual assault units including Los Angeles County, University of California Medical Center Violence Intervention Program, California Hospital Medical Center and Mission Community Hospital. Caruso has trained registered nurses, other medical professionals, legal professionals, sexual assault and domestic violence workers, law enforcement, students, community groups, and lectures at national and international conferences.
Ms. Caruso is President and founder of Forensic Nurse Professionals, Inc. (FNPI), an independent and privately owned center conducting forensic evidentiary examinations on victims and suspects of sexual assault. She also provides consulting services and expert testimony, throughout the United States, for the prosecution and defense in cases of sexual violence.
OBJECTIVES
After completion of this course of study, the participant will:
Have knowledge of the history of the evolution of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in the United States.
Have learned the medical and legal definition of rape and sexual assault consistent with the participant's jurisdiction.
Be proficient in the essential procedural steps in the examination of a victim of sexual assault as those procedures may vary in different jurisdictions (state to state).
Be able to meaningfully collaborate with law enforcement and crisis intervention personnel in the care of a victim of sexual assault, and establish priorities for their post event care management.
Be proficient in the generally accepted investigative processes used to identify, charge and prosecute suspects of sexual assault.
Be proficient in the performance of a sexual assault forensic examination on a victim, male or female, using recognized forensic evidence collection techniques, with emphasis on the detailed description of genital injuries and related areas of trauma.
Be proficient in and capable of documenting forensic evidence findings during the sexual assault examination process that is consistent with jurisdictional format and standards of admissibility as evidence in courts of law.
Be able to differentiate between findings that may be related by causation to sexual assault and those resulting from other forms of trauma.
Have knowledge of the biohazards potentially present during the process of a sexual assault victim examination, and the appropriate techniques to insulate both the examiner and victim from such potential risk exposure.
Be familiar with the profiles of various categories of sexual assault offenders.
Have knowledge of those authoritative resources available to the sexual assault examiner for networking, and continuing education in the forensic practice of sexual assault examiner.
WHO MAY TAKE THIS COURSE
Physicians, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, other qualified licensed health care professionals, law enforcement, social services professionals, attorneys, advocates, forensic scientists and criminalists. Enrollees who elect to complete the clinical practical internship must demonstrate proof of current professional licensure.
PREREQUISITES
It is suggested that course participants have basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology and have interest in the process of interacting with law enforcement, the forensic crime laboratory, prosecutorial agencies, attorneys, medical professionals and advocacy groups regarding sexual assault. Those with other backgrounds and interests may call for further information and explore enrollment.
AVAILABILITY
Course # 2 Schedule
Start Date May 14th, 2010
Final Exam July 30th to August 6th
2010 SAE Course Calendar click here
CE CONTACT HOURS
40 Continuing Education Hours (upon completion of didactic portion)
45 Clinical and Non Clinical Internship Hours
85 Total Continuing Education Hours (upon completion of didactic and internship portions of course)
DURATION
This is a 3 month course. The course must be completed within one calendar year of enrollment.
PRESENTATION METHOD
The Blackboard Learning System is used as the learning management system.
TEACHING METHOD
This program is presented online with on-going instructor participation. There is an established time frame for completion of assignments, homework, research projects, and for participating in discussion forums. Lessons are supplemented by online interactive quizzes, tutorials, and discussions. All assignments and homework must be submitted to the instructor via e-mail or digital drop box. Routine course guidance and instructional materials will be accessed online. A final examination is administered interactively and can be accessed by the student within a specified time period. The course syllabus provides students with a roadmap for course navigation as well as a detailed schedule.
METHOD OF COURSE GRADING
Participation in Discussion Forums: 20 points
Homework Assignments: 20 points
Midterm Exam: 10 points
Final Exam: 50 points
Minimum passing score for the final examination is 70%. Retakes must be approved by the course instructor
METHOD OF COURSE EVALUATION
After successful completion of the course study and examination with a passing score of 70%, an evaluation shall be completed and submitted to amerforensi@linkline.com
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Upon completion of the 40-hour online didactic and the 45-hour supervised clinical and non-clinical internship requirements, the healthcare professional will receive a Certificate of Completion. This course provides registered nurses 85-hours of California BRN Continuing Education. Participants residing outside of California will need to contact their individual state's licensing board to verify and determine the California BRN applicability.
Non-medical professionals who successfully complete the didactic portion will receive a certificate specifying completion of that portion of the course only.
Participants must complete the online didactic portion of the course in three months. The 45-hour internship may be completed concurrently with the online didactic portion of the course or within six months after completion.
Upon completion of the didactic and internship portions of this course, participants may, in selected jurisdictions, be eligible to practice as sexual assault examiners. Additionally, this course fulfills the educational requirements for participants who may want to make application for local, state or national certification, including the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Certification, (SANE-A), offered by the Forensic Nursing Certification Board (FNCB). http://www.iafn.org/certification/certHome.cfm
This course provides California BRN 40-hours of Continuing Education for registered nurses. Participants residing outside of California will need to contact their individual state's licensing board to verify and determine the California BRN applicability.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
Note: Allow 2 weeks for receipt of course materials, order early.
Quick-Reference for Sexual Assault
Giardino, A.P. et al. (2003). St. Louis: G.W. Medical Publishing, Inc.
(ISBN 1-878060-38-4).
Click Here to Order
Videotape/DVD
The Sexual Assault Examination: Essential Forensic Examination and Instruction Reference Guide
A complete guide to the forensic examination and professional evidence collection associated with the victim of sexual assault.
Click Here to Order
The Color Atlas of Sexual Assault
Faugno, Giardin, Seneski...Mosby (1997). St. Louis: Mosby.
(ISBN 0-8151-3842-3)
Click Here to Order
SUGGESTED COURSE MATERIALS
Note: Allow 2 weeks for receipt of course materials, order early.
Forensic Nursing
Virginia A. Lynch with Janet Barber Duval. Elsevier Mosby, St Louis, MO. (2006),
(ISBN 0-323-02826-8)
Click Here to Order
Rape and Sexual Assault Crime Classification Manual: A Standard System for Investigating and Classifying Violent Crimes
Douglas, J.E.; Burgess, A.W.; Burgess, A.G. & Ressler, R.K., (1992). New York: Lexington Books.
(ISBN 0-669-24638-7)
Click Here to Order
Sexual Assault: The Medico-Legal Examination
Crowley, S.R. (1999). Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange.
(ISBN 0-8385-8533-7)
Click Here to Order
Forensic Emergency Medicine
Olshaker, J.S., Jackson, M.C. & Smock, W.S. (2007). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
(ISBN-07817-3144-5)
Click Here to Order
Practical Aspects of Rape Investigations
Hazelwood, P.R. & Burgess, A.W. (2001) (3rd ed). Boca Raton, FL. CRC Press.
(ISBN 0849300762)
Click Here to Order
Adult Images of Findings
These images are an excellent resource for study, teaching and research needs. Carefully selected, the genital and anal findings, photographed with the colposcope, clearly identify trauma relating to sexual violence.
50 CD IMAGES
Click Here to Order
OTHER RELATED COURSES
Pediatric Sexual Assault Forensic Nurse Examiner Training Program, Chain of Custody, Forensic Evidence Collection in the Emergency Department, Forensic Evidence Collection in the Clinical Setting, Forensic Blood Specimen Collection and Handling, Documentation and Communication: Forensic Issues for Healthcare in the Digital Era
COURSE FEE
Healthcare Professional: $579.00
Note: Fee does not include required course materials. The student will receive an email confirmation upon receipt and processing of course payment. Within twenty-four hours prior to the course start date, the student will receive an email with user name, password, Blackboard link and student ID.
After the successful completion of the 40-hour didactic portion of the course, the student may download the internship documents required for clinical practical internship. Proof of current professional licensure is required.
All courses and materials are based on United States laws and regulations unless otherwise noted. Laws vary from state to state.
Click Here for course payment and registration
Note: Automatic registration occurs when paying for course
