LSU Health New Orleans Receives $1.3 Million Grant to Increase Certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

The LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing recently received a $1.3 million grant to increase access to certified sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) for people who have been sexually assaulted in 12 southeast Louisiana parishes. The US Health Resourses and Services Administration awarded the three-year grant.

Jessica Landry, DNP, FNP-BC, Program Coordinator, BSN-DNP Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner led the team who competed for the grant. Dr. Landry tells, Eurekalert.org:

“Currently, 1.3 million residents share one sexual assault nurse examiner certified to manage adult cases of sexual assault, and there are no SANEs certified for pediatric cases. Of the 10 rural parishes surrounding the New Orleans area, none have SANE services available locally. When a resident is sexually assaulted, he/she must be transported up to 90 miles to either Jefferson or Orleans Parish. In addition to providing SANE training, we plan to work with rural parishes to increasingly implement the Community-based Model where SANE practitioners are centralized and travel to local hospitals to complete forensic sexual assault examinations rather than requiring victims to come to them.”

Landry’s project will train 140 nurses and certify a minimum of 75 SANE nurses. Funding will be provided for all nurses to complete their training, including online coursework through the International Association of Forensic Nurses, clinical skills training, clinical practice hours, certification, and continuing education. Support will also be provided for continued professional development to help reduce psychosocial barriers related to retention of SANEs.

To learn more about LSU Health New Orleans’ $1.3 million grant to increase certified sexual assault nurse examiners, visit here.