N.B. increases Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners almost four years after victim seeking rape kit was turned away

In 2022, a victim of sexual assault was asked to return the following day because there was not a nurse immediately available to administer a sexual assault evidence kit. (CTV News)

FREDERICTON, N.B. – New Brunswick’s English health authority is looking to hire 11.5 full-time dedicated Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), which would more than double their current number of the specialized positions.

Today, Horizon Health Network has nine full-time SANEs plus one, who spends approximately two days a week in another unit. The SANEs – otherwise known as forensic nurse examiners – have all completed the education and training requirements to administer medical forensic care for patients who’ve experienced sexual assault or abuse.

The additional 11 positions - plus one that will spend 50 per cent of their week in another unit - would bring their total to just over 22 dedicated nurse examiners. The plan is to add two to each regional hospital: Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Miramichi and the Upper River Valley.

The funding approval comes almost four years after a 26-year-old woman sought a sexual assault exam at Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital but was asked to return the following day, due to no nurse examiners being available at the time.

It was Aug. 1, 2022. The victim said she initially called the Fredericton Police Force for guidance, who directed her to the hospital for a sexual assault evidence kit – also known as a “rape kit.”

When she got there, she said she was told a nurse trained to administer the kit wasn’t available and advised not to shower and return the next day. The victim said the police intervened, and a nurse was called-in to administer the kit.

She spoke to CTV News at the time – and again on Tuesday, in response to Horizon’s decision to add more nurse examiners.

“The idea that someone that I love - a sister, a daughter, a niece, a brother, a friend - that anyone would have the experience of being turned away when they had bravery to show up, I really hope that this additional funding, allows that to not be the case in the future,” she said. “So, I’m very grateful that Horizon also agreed that they didn’t want these situations to continue and are putting dollars towards making change.”

The woman wanted to remain anonymous, saying she’s worked hard on moving into the “next season of her life,” since the assault.

In 2022, there were about seven full-time, dedicated nurse examiners. Several other nurses were trained but assigned to other units and operated within the SANE program on an on-call basis.

A ‘major expansion’

Amanda Hunt, the Clinical Director of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Forensic Nurse Examiner Program, said in an emailed statement that the additional positions are about strengthening the program.

The funding will also add a new program manager and more administrative support.

Hunt calls it a “major expansion.”

“Beyond staffing, we have implemented clearer access and escalation pathways to connect patients to a SANE nurse as quickly as possible, improved scheduling models to reduce service gaps, and strengthened coordination at both the regional and provincial level, including real-time support in situations where local coverage may be temporarily unavailable,” she said.

New Brunswick’s other health authority, Vitalité Health Network, said in an emailed statement that the case of the woman in Fredericton, caused the authority to transition from a purely “on-call” model, to a full-time staffed model.

In 2022, Vitalité Health Network’s president, Dr. France Desrosiers, said the network had 14 trained nurse examiners, who would respond to cases as needed, across nine hospitals.

Today, there are six dedicated SANE positions, two each for the North-West, Restigouche and Acadie-Bathurst regions, and one program coordinator.

But of those seven positions, three are currently vacant.

“Like many areas of the healthcare system, the SANE program’s primary challenge remains the recruitment and retention of qualified nursing professionals,” the authority’s spokesperson said in a statement. “It is important to note that all patients who have presented to a Vitalité Health Network hospital and required SANE services have been seen, assessed and cared for appropriately.”

Advocates applaud additional positions

Staff at Sexual Violence New Brunswick (SVNB) have seen a large increase in the number of calls for their services over the last couple of years, according to the organization’s strategic initiatives lead, Andrée-Anne Marks.

She said they’ve heard of similar increases at sexual assault centres across the country. SVNB says they hope the growth stems from an increased knowledge about the resources available for sexual assault victims.

“So, people feel as though they can reach out somewhere and they will be believed,” she said. “Which is where we kind of show up.”

The organization offers trauma counseling, guidance and even four hours of free legal advice. But Marks said they’re finding a lot more people need immediate supports – like housing, mental-health supports, or food security –before trauma counselling can begin.

“Ensuring always that we’re keeping survivors at the centre. And so, as survivors are reaching out and telling us what they need, being adaptable and flexible to that. And of course, always believing them,” Marks said.

She said SVNB collaborates with the SANE program often, and having “as many doors open as possible is really important.”

“I think that the increase in support to the SANE program is a positive thing. I know that the survivors that we work with are so appreciative of all the nurses,” she said.

Horizon Health didn’t offer a timeline as to when it’s hoping these extra positions will be filled.