In the moments following a sexual assault, survivors are faced with more than physical injuries. They are navigating shock, fear and uncertainty — often while making decisions that can affect their health, safety and access to justice. How and when care is delivered in those first hours are crucial.
At Rush, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, or SANE, program was created to meet this moment with expertise, compassion and coordination. In 2025, the SANE program reached a pivotal moment, transforming years of work into measurable growth, expanded influence and strengthened support for survivors across Illinois.
Sexual assault affects people of every age, background and community, yet it remains widely underreported. Survivors often arrive seeking medical care during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, carrying physical injuries and emotional trauma and uncertainty about what comes next. The Rush SANE Team exists to provide more than clinical care. They bring together medical care, forensic expertise and trauma‑informed support in a single, patient‑centered approach.
The mission of the Rush SANE Program is to provide trauma‑informed forensic examinations for individuals who have recently experienced sexual assault. This includes comprehensive medical assessments, timely and accurate evidence collection and emotional support for survivors and their families. Equally important, the program maintains strong partnerships across the community, ensuring continuity of care and a coordinated response that extends beyond Rush.
Throughout 2025, the SANE Program exemplified exemplary professional nursing practice. Patient care reflected accountability, evidence‑based practice and a deep respect for patient choice — hallmarks of a professional practice model that prioritizes both healing and justice. SANE trained nurses worked autonomously and collaboratively with physicians, advocacy organizations, law enforcement and legal partners to ensure survivors received high‑quality, ethical and consistent care.
Clinical Training Program Strengthens SANE Workforce
During the year, the program expanded the Rush SANE Clinical Training Program, which launched in July 2024 in part from a Health Resources and Services Administration Advanced, or HRSA, Nursing Education‑SANE grant. The program has become a regional resource for forensic nursing education. Nurses from Rush and around Chicago enrolled in structured training that combined simulation‑based education, structured preceptorships, peer support groups and professional conferences. These efforts strengthened the SANE workforce while ensuring nurses had the knowledge, skills and confidence to practice effectively.
As a result, Rush has the leading SANE program in Illinois, serving not only as a center for survivor care but also as a training hub for forensic nurses statewide. Members of the SANE Team frequently provide expert testimony in court, where their meticulous documentation and clinical judgment play a critical role in legal proceedings. In July 2025, the program successfully submitted its second Annual Performance Review to HRSA, reflecting continued growth and accountability.
At the bedside, the impact was immediate and deeply personal. In the hours following an assault, the SANE Team provides comprehensive medical care, meticulous evidence collection, emotional support, and connections to advocacy resources. Their work helps ensure survivors were not alone — and that they had access to both healing and justice should they choose to pursue it.
The impact of the Rush SANE Program reaches far beyond any single patient encounter. By supporting survivors in their most vulnerable moments, strengthening interprofessional collaboration and advancing forensic nursing education, the program contributes to broader societal outcomes — improving access to justice, raising awareness about sexual violence and reinforcing trust in the health care system.
Through skilled nursing practice, compassionate care and a commitment to excellence, the Rush SANE Team demonstrates how nurses lead meaningful change.