KEYSER, W. Va. — Heather Dignan, an assistant professor at the WVU School of Nursing Keyser Campus, recently completed training required to become an Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).
With her certificate of completion from the West Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (WV SAFE) Commission, she may now perform sexual assault forensic examinations as part of her patient care.
“Women’s health has always been a major focus for me,” Dignan said. “Having the ability to provide safe, trauma-informed care to all people in my community who have experienced an assault is very important to me. Providing a voice and the ability for victims to be heard is my motivation.”
To become a SANE, the applicant must first be a registered nurse or advanced practice nurse, preferably with two years or more experience in areas of practice that require advanced physical assessment skills, such as emergency, critical care and maternal child health.
To remain current in the evolving world of forensic nursing, all nurses practicing as SANEs must complete a minimum of eight continuing education hours every two years.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu