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Medical Touch

Why Become a SANE?

After a sexual assault, survivors have choices to make.

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Do they seek help at a hospital? Do they press charges against their attacker? Do they go to court?

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Hopefully, they have chosen to get medical attention and if they are lucky they’ve arrived at a hospital with nurses who are trained to help sexual assault victims. Called sexual assault nurse examiners, or SANE nurses, these specialized medical professionals collect forensic evidence and help a victim take care of her or his physical and mental health after a traumatic experience. A SANE nurse may be called to testify in court.

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According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three women and one in four men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes.

The effects of experiencing an assault can be both physical and deeply psychological. Your training will show you how to care for the whole person.
 

The Training

The SANE education program is designed to train nurses to address survivors’ specific needs. After completion of this training, SANEs become uniquely qualified to treat this vulnerable patient group. This means that they can provide trauma-informed care to minimize the harm of invasive exams that may trigger a patient. In doing so, they can also equip their patients with forensic evidence that can be used if they decide to report their assault.

To become a SANE, you must first be a registered 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.

  • We also ask that you live within an hour’s drive of a hospital that Riverview Center serves.

  • The training is 100% online.

  • You will shadow an experienced nurse for your first exam.

  • Your Riverview Center, SANE Coordinator is just a call away at any time.

Let's Do This!

To sign up for training or to ask for more information, please contact:
 

Riverview Center SANE Coordinator:
Kortney King
Email: bhsanecoordinator@gmail.com

CRISIS HOTLINES

 Our hotlines can be reached 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

Counties in Iowa

Sexual Assault: 888-557-0310

Jo Daviess Co., Illinois

Sexual Assault: 815-777-8155

Domestic Violence: 815-777-3680

Carroll Co., Illinois

Sexual Assault: 815-244-7772

Domestic Violence: 815-244-1320

riverview service area map

DIRECT OFFICE

 Our direct office phones numbers are available

during business hours and are specific to the locations they serve. 

Galena,IL Office:

815-777-8167

Mt. Carroll, IL Office: 

815-244-7704

Dubuque, IA Office: 

563-557-0310

Cedar Rapids, IA Office: 

319-540-0080

Waterloo, IA Office: 

319-939-9599

Decorah, IA Office: 

563-380-3332

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Administrative Office

1789 Elm St Dubuque, IA 52001

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Riverview Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax exemption number is 36-3920008. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Copyright ©2025 Riverview Center. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

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