OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

1

OSAC 2023-N-0015

Standard for the Education 

of Forensic Nurses who 

Conduct Sexual Assault 

Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and 

Adolescent Patients

Forensic Nursing Subcommittee 

Medicine Scientific Area Committee

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science
OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

2

Draft OSAC Proposed Standard

OSAC 2023-N-0015

Standard for the Education of Forensic 

Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical 

Forensic Examinations for Adult and 

Adolescent Patients

Prepared by 

Forensic Nursing Subcommittee

Version: 1.0

June 2023

Disclaimer:

This OSAC Proposed Standard was written by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) 

for Forensic Science following a process that includes an open comment period. This Proposed Standard 

will be submitted to a standards developing organization and is subject to change.

There may be references in an OSAC Proposed Standard to other publications under development by 

OSAC. The information in the Proposed Standard, and underlying concepts and methodologies, may be 

used by the forensic-science community before the completion of such companion publications.

Any identification of commercial equipment, instruments, or materials in the Proposed Standard is not a 

recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Government and does not imply that the equipment, 

instruments, or materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

1

1 Foreword

2 The purpose of this document is to delineate the minimum required education of forensic nurses 

3 who conduct sexual assault medical forensic examinations for adult and adolescent patients. This 

4 document is not meant to replace existing education guidelines and should be utilized in 

5 conjunction with other published standards. 

6 This document has been drafted by the Forensic Nursing Subcommittee of the Organization of 

7 Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science through a consensus process.

8 All hyperlinks and web addresses shown in this document are current as of the publication date 

9 of this standard.

10

11

12 Keywords: forensic nurse, sexual assault nurse examiner, education 
OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

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13 Table of Contents

14 1. Scope 5

15 2. Normative References 5

16 3. Terms and Definitions 5

17 4. Minimum Licensure 6

18 5. Minimum Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Didactic Education 6

19 6. Minimum Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Clinical Education 7

20 7. Continuing Education 7

21 8. Informative References 7

22 9. Bibliography 7

23

24

25
OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

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26 Standard for the Education of Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

27 Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

28

29 1. Scope

30 This document delineates the required education of forensic nurses who conduct sexual assault 

31 medical forensic examinations for adult and adolescent patients.

32 2. Normative References

33 The following reference documents are used [ indispensable] for the application of this 

34 document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest 

35 edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

36 Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification. (2021). Sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE37 A® and SANE-P®): 2021 Certification examination handbook. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner 

38 (SANE-A® and SANE-P®) CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION HANDBOOK

39 International Association of Forensic Nurses (2018). Sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) 

40 education guidelines. EDUCATION GUIDELINES Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)

41 International Association of Forensic Nurses (ND). Clinical skills lab curriculum. 

42 Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse/Forensic Examiner (SANE/SAFE) Clinical Skills 

43 Laboratory Curriculum

44 Office on Violence Against Women (2018). National training standards for sexual assault 

medical forensic examiners, 2nd 45 edition. National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical 

46 Forensic Examiners US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women

47 U.S. Department of Justice. Office on Violence Against Women. (2013). A national protocol for 

48 sexual assault medical forensic examinations adult/adolescent (2nd. ed). A National Protocol for 

49 Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations - Adults/Adolescents Second Edition

50 3. Terms and Definitions. For purposes of this document, the following definitions apply.

51 3.1. Adult/adolescent - An individual who has reached onset of menses or has 

52 developed secondary sex characteristics [adapted from IAFN SANE ed guidelines, p. 4]

53 3.2. Competency - [DRAFT - see AACN definition] required clinical skills performed 

54 under direct supervision until effective practice is demonstrated and documented by the 

55 preceptor.

56 3.3. Didactic education - designed or intended to teach people something 

57 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/didactic ; typically refers to the theoretical 

58 knowledge imparted to students in a variety of instructional strategies including lecture, 
OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

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59 web-based, and/or simulation. 

60 3.4. Clinical education - The opportunity for students to engage in real-life patient 

61 care, practice and refine skills, explore ethical issues, experience nursing roles, process 

62 clinical information, and connect theoretical content learned in the classroom to real-life 

63 practical situations (Oermann M.H., Shellenbarger T. (2020) Clinical Education in 

64 Nursing: Current Practices and Trends. In: Nestel D., Reedy G., McKenna L., Gough S. 

65 (eds) Clinical Education for the Health Professions. Springer, Singapore, p. 2)

66 3.5. Continuing education - An educational activity (such as a class, lecture series, 

67 conference, seminar, or short course) that is offered by a recognized organization or 

68 individual that brings participants up to date in their relevant area of knowledge. (CFNE 

69 International. (n.d.). Multidisciplinary glossary on sexual violence.

70 https://www.cfnei.com/glossary-index/) 

71 3.6. Forensic nurse - A registered nurse who has completed specialized training in 

72 caring for adult/adolescent and/or pediatric/adolescent patients following sexual assault 

73 [adapted from IAFN 2018 SANE Ed Guidelines, p. 4]

74 3.7. Nursing licensure - Licensure is the process by which boards of nursing grant 

75 permission to an individual to engage in nursing practice after determining that the 

76 applicant has attained the competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice. 

77 Licensure is necessary when the regulated activities are complex and require specialized 

78 knowledge and skill and independent decision making. The licensure process determines 

79 if the applicant has the necessary skills to safely perform a specified scope of practice by 

80 predetermining the criteria needed and evaluating licensure applicants to determine if 

81 they meet the criteria. https://www.ncsbn.org/licensure.htm National Council of State 

82 Boards of Nursing (NCSBN, 2022). 

83 4. Minimum Licensure 

84 4.1. Shall be a registered Nurse (RN) with an unencumbered license eligible to practice in 

85 their jurisdiction.

86 5. Minimum Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Didactic Education 

87 5.1. Initial didactic education

88 a) The nurse shall complete didactic coursework consistent with the normative 

89 references. 

90 6. Minimum Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Clinical Education 

91 6.1. Initial clinical education
OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

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92 a) Clinical education is a required component. The nurse shall complete clinical 

93 education experiences consistent with the normative references. 

94 b) Some states and/or programs may have additional clinical requirements. It is the 

95 responsibility of the nurse to know and adhere to these requirements. 

96 7. Continuing Education 

97 7.1. Forensic nurses shall participate in annual continuing education that allows the 

98 nurse to maintain competency and currency in forensic nursing practice. 

99 8. Informative References:

100 Forensic Nursing Certification Board. (2022). Certification application manual: Generalist 

101 forensic nurse certified (GFN-CTM) and advanced forensic nurse certified (AFN-CTM). 1-27-22 

102 FNCB Certification Examination Application Manual

103

104
OSAC 2023-N-0015 Standard for the Education of 

Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

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105 Appendix A

106 Bibliography

107 This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list as the group recognizes other publications on this 

108 subject may exist. At the time this document was drafted, these were some of the publications 

109 available for reference. Additionally, any mention of a particular software tool or vendor as part 

110 of this bibliography is purely incidental, and any inclusion does not imply endorsement by the 

111 authors of this document.

112 1] American Nurse Association and International Association of Forensic Nurses (2017). 

113 Forensic nursing scope and standards of practice. 2nd ed. Silver Spring, MD. American Nurses 

114 Association.

115 2] International Association of Forensic Nurses. (2022). Sexual assault nurse examiner education 

116 guidelines. Elkridge, MD: International Association of Forensic Nurses.

117 3] Office on Violence Against Women (2018). National training standards for sexual assault 

118 medical forensic examiners (2nd ed). Washington, DC: US Department of Justice.

119 4] Office on Violence Against Women (2013). National protocol for sexual assault medical 

120 forensic examinations: Adults/adolescents (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: US Department of 

121 Justice. 

122 5] World Health Organization. (2013). Responding to intimate partner violence and sexual 

123 violence against women: WHO clinical and policy guidelines. Geneva, Switzerland: World 

124 Health Organization.