State of Colorado Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner / Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SANE/SAFE) Project

Beginning in January of 2013, through a competitive grant offered through the Division of Criminal Justice, UCHealth’s Memorial Hospital assumed responsibility for the Colorado State SANE/SAFE Project.

Our primary purpose is to provide statewide SANE/SAFE education, clinical education, and technical assistance to all programs in the state of Colorado based on the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) SANE Education Guidelines.

Because not all communities have access or support for SANE/SAFE programs, the project will also train health facilities and providers without SANE programs. Additionally, education of multidisciplinary Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) members will occur.

By using both web-based and live education we will be able to assist SANE and other medical professionals in maintaining the skills necessary to care for sexually assaulted patients and to maintain sustainable programs.

Project offerings/downloads
Training opportunties
Telehealth on-call schedule
Technical assistance
resources
contact us

Project offerings and resources

2025 project offerings

  • Technical assistance via phone or email consultation and postings on our website.
  • A 64-hour SANE/SAFE Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric Didactic Education, which can be free of charge for Colorado providers and military personnel practicing in Colorado with valid, unencumbered licenses.
  • Simulation clinical skills lab education at the UCHealth Community Education Center in Colorado Springs, using highly-skilled and experienced Forensic Nurse Examiners, as well as live Gynecological Teaching Associates (GTAs).
  • Medical Response to Sexual Assault Patients: Best Practice Education for Medical Professionals.
  • Two one-hour SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) series education quarterly available to anyone who may provide services to those affected by sexual assault.
  • Twice yearly virtual SANE-A and SANE-P Certification Review courses.
  • A preceptorship program for Colorado SANE trained RNs affiliated with a SANE program in Colorado.
  • Telehealth support for selected rural programs in the state.

Resources

An algorithm was developed for Colorado which allows medical providers to understand their reporting options in the state of Colorado. Adult patients have the three following options:

  • Full law enforcement report
  • Medical report
  • Anonymous report

The algorithm is available for download: Reporting Algorithm

Additionally, a short (30-minute) education video outlining each of the reporting options is available to help alleviate any confusion regarding reporting options in Colorado: Reporting Options video

Upcoming education opportunities

Comprehensive Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Program

International-Association-of-Forensic-Nurses-APPROVED

The Colorado SANE/SAFE Project offers 64 hours of adult, adolescent, and pediatric SANE/SAFE Education adhering to the IAFN Educational Guidelines for best national practices in caring for the sexually assaulted patient. The format for the Comprehensive SAFE Education is online and can be accessed from any computer that has high-speed internet access. The entire education is done online without requiring any travel from those that are enrolled in the program.

2025 course dates:

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Clinical Skills Lab Education Program

The Colorado SANE/SAFE Project offers the following schedule of live two-day SAFE clinical skills laboratories for nurses having completed the Sexual Assault Nurse/Forensic Examiner Didactic Education Program. Participants will receive clinical practice and demonstration using live model patients in a simulation laboratory with clinical preceptors. Space is very limited, and enrollment is done on a first come, first served basis. Registrations will be accepted through the registration deadline or until the course fills up. If the course you wish to attend is full, you can place your name on a waitlist and if there is a cancellation, you will be contacted in the order that your name is listed. If you wish to be added to another course date, you will need to register for that date. Your name will NOT be automatically moved to the next course date in the event that there is no cancellation for your preferred date.

2025 dates:

Caring for the Sexually Assaulted Patient When There is No SANE in Sight: An Education for ALL Healthcare Providers

This two-hour, online, free education from the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) is intended for clinicians who are expected to care for patients who have experienced sexual violence yet have not received formal education to do so. Communities who do not have access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) , or who need to supplement the SANE schedule for emergency staffing needs may find benefit from this course. In addition, it can be a useful recruitment tool for nurses to assess their interest prior to committing to the full 64-hour course. Covering the neurobiology of trauma, coordinated community response, the medical forensic examination and courtroom testimony, this education was collaboratively created by a team of national experts from various disciplines and is intended to fill the education gap for all clinicians about sexual assault and the unique needs of this complex patient population.

Go to IAFN web page

Advanced Forensic Nurse Examiner Education

The Colorado SANE/SAFE Project is now offering a 24-hour Advanced Forensic Nurse Examiner (AFNE) education online through our ULearn learning management system. This education is designed to expand the scope of patients seen in programs to include: child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, strangulation and elder abuse.

To be eligible to participate, you must hold an unencumbered RN or advanced practice licensure and you must have successfully completed a didactic portion of SANE education and be able to provide a certificate of completion.

The following dates are available for registration in 2025. Choose a date below for details:

Cost: Free of charge for Colorado providers and military personnel practicing in Colorado with valid, unencumbered licenses.

Colorado SANE/SAFE Project Preceptorship Program

The Colorado SANE/SAFE Project is now offering a preceptorship program with the UCHealth Memorial Hospital Forensic Nurses Examiners Program. Nurses wishing to precept with the forensic nurses must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a valid and unencumbered Colorado nursing license/practicing military health care in Colorado.
  • Affiliated with a program in Colorado.
  • Have had SANE/SAFE education and can provide a certificate of completion.
  • MMRx2 vaccine or titer.
  • Negative TB test in last 365 days.
  • Varicella vaccine or titer.
  • HepB Series, titer or waiver.
  • Flu vaccine (during flu season).
  • Copy of valid driver’s license.
  • Copy of current BLS or ACLS certification.
    • All of these items must stay current during your time at Memorial Hospital. It is your responsibility to ensure that if any of the above expires during your time with us, you must update them immediately or you will not be able to continue with us.
  • Clinical Skills education through the Colorado SANE/SAFE Project (highly recommended).
  • Updated resume or CV.
  • Signed Letter of Agreement.
  • Completed registration form.

Only a small number of nurses will be accepted into the preceptorship program through the Colorado SANE/SAFE Project, so any incomplete paperwork or not having completed the required criteria will automatically cause your application to be rejected.

***If you are an out-of-state SANE who is interested in a preceptorship, please email [email protected] for information about the out-of-state preceptorship program.***

Register now

SANE-A Certification Review Course

The SANE-A Certification Review Course is an 8-hour live virtual course reviewing key concepts and practice test questions to help prepare the SANE to sit for the SANE-A certification exam.

The review consists of the following:

  • Assessment and Documentation
  • Evidence Collection
  • Patient Management
  • Legal Issues and the Judicial Process
  • Professional Practice

This course is held live, in real-time on Microsoft Teams. Additionally, this course is meant for SANE/SAFEs who are currently practicing and are planning to sit for the certification exam in the near future.

Please note, that you must be present for 100% of the course and complete a post-course evaluation to receive full credit (including CEs). 

The 2025 virtual review courses will be held on the following dates:

Aug. 14, 2025 (registration closes July 10)

SANE-P Certification Review Course

SANE-P Certification Review Course

The SANE-P Certification Review Course is an 8-hour live virtual course reviewing key concepts and practice test questions to help prepare the SANE to sit for the SANE-P certification exam.

The review consists of the following:

  • Assessment and Documentation
  • Evidence Collection
  • Patient Management
  • Legal Issues and the Judicial Process
  • Professional Practice

This course is held live, in real-time on Microsoft Teams. Additionally, this course is meant for SANE/SAFEs who are currently practicing and are planning to sit for the certification exam in the near future.

The 2025 virtual review courses will be held on the following dates:

Aug. 21, 2025 (registration closes on July 01

SART Series Education

SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) Series education sessions are broad-reaching to meet the needs of those who respond to sexual assault in Colorado. The target audience includes healthcare providers, law enforcement, first responders, advocates, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. This education is updated quarterly, adding two hours of new content each time. These education sessions are broad-reaching to meet the needs of those who respond to sexual assault in Colorado. Each SART Series education is pre-recorded and available upon registration.

Quarter 2, 2025

Quarter 1, 2025

Enduring offerings

Intimate Partner Violence Skills Education

This hybrid course is designed to prepare SANEs and Advanced Practice RNs to enhance their forensic nursing practice by learning how to perform assessments specifically for IPV patients. After completing the didactic modules, participants will practice with a live model to obtain a history, conduct a detailed physical assessment, document photographs, collect evidence, and consider safety aspects.

To be eligible to participate, you must hold an unencumbered RN or advanced practice licensure. You must have completed a didactic portion of SANE education and be able to provide a certificate of completion and finish the online education before attending the live course.

The course provides 16 hours of continuing education through ULearn, which must be completed to qualify for the live session.

Course Format:

  • The course includes 16 hours of enduring education through ULearn, which must be completed before attending the live portion.
  • 8-hour Live IPV Clinical Skills Lab

2025 education dates

April 9, 2025
  • Enduring education from April 9 – April 23, 2025 (Registration closes April 1)
  • Live in-person CSL on May 16, 2025 
August 13, 2025
  • Enduring education from August 13, 2025 – August 27, 2025 (Registration closes August 1)
  • Live in-person CSL on September 12, 2025 

Technical Assistance

The Colorado SANE/SAFE Project offers 24/7 clinical technical assistance to any SANE program or healthcare provider throughout the state of Colorado by calling 719.365.8333.

For less urgent clinical needs, class enrollment questions or ULearn assistance, email the Colorado SANE/SAFE Project by email at [email protected].

Resources

Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
https://www.colorado.gov/cbi

Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado
http://dcj.state.co.us/

International Association of Forensic Nurses
www.ForensicNurses.org/

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Technical Assistance Project (SAFEta)
safeta.org/

Forensic Health Online
www.forensichealth.com/

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
https://www.niwrc.org/

Tribal Forensic Healthcare
https://www.ihs.gov/forensichealthcare/

You Have the Right Colorado (reference to find SANE Programs in the state of Colorado)
https://youhavetherightco.org/support-services-2-2/

Definitions

SANE: A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner is a Registered Nurse who has been trained in the comprehensive care of the sexually assaulted patient, has the ability to conduct a medical/forensic examination with or without evidence collection, and is capable of testifying as an expert witness in a legal proceeding. The SANE may care for the adult/adolescent population, the pediatric population, or both.

SAFE: A Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner is a Registered Nurse or advanced practice provider such as a physician assistant, physician or Nurse Practitioner who has been trained in the comprehensive care of the sexually assaulted patient, has the ability to conduct a medical/forensic examination with or without evidence collection, and is capable of testifying as an expert witness in a legal proceeding. The SAFE may care for the adult/adolescent population, the pediatric population, or both.

The only difference between SANE and SAFE is that SANE only refers to nursing as the provider, SAFE may be nursing or other properly trained advanced practice providers.

SANE-A: Is the IAFN nationally recognized certification credentials when the appropriately trained SANE has successfully passed the adult/adolescent certification examination.

SANE-P: Is the IAFN nationally recognized certification credentials when the appropriately trained SANE has successfully passed the pediatric certification examination.

Certification: Is through the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN). Information on certification can be found by clicking here. There is no legislation or otherwise mandated Colorado certification requirements.

Competency: Is broadly defined as a person’s ability or capacity to do a job. It applies to many professionals and involves physical abilities or skills, the performance of specific tasks, the knowledge and understanding of the topic, and the personal characteristics necessary for a job. In nursing, competency is determined at the local (clinical) level.

Contact us

Program email: [email protected]
Program phone: 719.365.8371

Jennifer Degner, BSN, RN, CA-SANE, SANE-A
Colorado SANE/SAFE Project Instructor
[email protected]

Erica Keller
Project Support Admin
[email protected]

Brandy Swennes, BS, CHCP
Project Manager
[email protected]

Megan Lechner, DNP, APRN, CNS, SANE-A, SANE-P
Forensic Nursing Program Manager and SANE/SAFE Project Director
[email protected]

After-hours technical assistance: 719.365.8333

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