Published: June 10, 2026
Sexual assault, sexual abuse and human trafficking represent some of the most complex clinical encounters a provider will face — moments that demand not only medical acuity but also trauma-informed care, forensic precision and multidisciplinary coordination. The Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Nurse Program at Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s exists precisely for these moments.
A sexual assault forensic examiner nurse specializes in conducting medical-forensic examinations and evidence collection for sexual assault cases, while a sexual assault nurse examiner, abbreviated SANE, is a certified registered nurse with advanced training in forensic examination, trauma-informed care and legal testimony for sexual assault survivors. The terms are often used interchangeably, but SAFE designates the broader role while SANE specifically denotes the nursing credential and certification. All Norton SANE nurses have pediatric, adolescent and adult credentials.
At Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s, the SAFE Nurse Program provides specialized forensic medical exams and trauma-centered care for patients of all ages — pediatric, adolescent and adult — who may have experienced sexual assault, sexual abuse or human trafficking. Every nurse in the program holds two sexual assault nurse examiner credentials, licensed through the Kentucky Board of Nursing.
SAFE nurses are available in person at all Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s hospitals, and by phone consultation 24 hours a day, seven days a week for providers across the system — for both emergency and nonemergency concerns.
Call (502) 629-8682 to reach the on-call SAFE nurse, available 24/7.
Search for SANE as a provider in Epic’s On-Call Finder.
To reach the on-call SAFE nurse:
A cross-sectional study published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine demonstrated that SANE programs improve outcomes across multiple domains simultaneously. Benefits include:
Improved service uptake and patient experience. Patients cared for by a sexual assault nurse examiner were significantly more likely to be offered — and to accept — key services, including advocate support, medical forensic examination kits, pregnancy testing and emergency contraception. The authors note that access to such specialized care at all times would both improve patient outcomes and help hospitals meet required quality metrics.
Forensic documentation quality. SANE-trained nurses demonstrate superior consistency and completeness in forensic evidence collection compared with providers without specialized training. This matters not only for potential legal proceedings but for the integrity of the medical record itself.
Psychological recovery. Survivors perceive SANE providers as taking their concerns seriously, demonstrating genuine care and compassion during examinations, and providing meaningful follow-up information — factors that research links to improved psychological well-being after assault.
Comprehensive medical care. SANE programs are associated with higher and more consistent rates of post-assault medical care delivery, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) prophylaxis and emergency contraception — care that might otherwise be inconsistently offered in a general emergency department setting.
Legal outcomes. Better forensic documentation translates into improved evidentiary quality and more effective expert testimony, supporting the broader justice process for survivors.
When called, a SAFE nurse can provide:
The on-call SAFE nurse is available for any provider encountering a patient with a concern related to sexual assault, sexual abuse or suspected human trafficking — regardless of whether the presentation is acute or historical, whether the patient is disclosing for the first time or whether you are uncertain about how to proceed.
You do not need to have a confirmed disclosure to call. Clinical instinct and concern are sufficient.
This includes:
One aspect of the SAFE program that deserves clinical attention is its role in supporting care teams. Encounters involving sexual violence are emotionally demanding and can be clinically ambiguous. Having a specialized resource available — someone whose entire training is oriented around these cases — changes the dynamic for everyone in the room.
SAFE nurses carry expertise that is difficult to maintain through infrequent exposure alone. The forensic aspects of sexual assault examination — evidence chain of custody, injury pattern documentation, medication timing for prophylaxis — require consistent practice and dedicated training. Calling the SAFE nurse is not a sign that you are unprepared; it is evidence of good clinical judgment.
The SAFE Nurse Program reflects our care teams’ commitment to meeting patients in their most vulnerable moments with the full weight of clinical expertise and human compassion. For providers, it is a resource that makes doing the right thing for your patient as straightforward as a single phone call.
Reviewed by Joelle Hirst, BSN, R.N., SANE A/A, SANE P/A, SANE-A, nurse manager, SAFE Nurse Program