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ForwardTAASA 2026 Conference- SANE Track (Nurses)
Across Texas, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs face significant variation in training quality, clinical competency, and access to trauma-informed, evidence-based education. Many clinicians—especially in rural and underserved regions—lack consistent opportunities for hands-on skill development, updated forensic standards, and interprofessional collaboration. At the same time, workforce shortages, burnout, and limited mentorship undermine the sustainability of SANE services statewide. These gaps contribute to inconsistent patient care, reduced program readiness, and missed opportunities for coordinated system response. This educational activity aims to address these statewide practice gaps by strengthening clinical skills, improving multidisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the development of a resilient, well-prepared forensic nursing workforce.
Target Audience
This activity it intended for nurses engaged in SANE programs.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Perform comprehensive, trauma-informed sexual assault and strangulation assessments using evidence-based clinical protocols
- Apply current forensic evidence collection standards within sexual assault medical forensic examinations.
- Integrate updated state and national guidelines to inform and justify clinical decision-making.
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of multidisciplinary partners—including advocacy, law enforcement, public health, and prosecution—within the coordinated response to sexual assault.
- Develop evidence-informed strategies to improve communication, case coordination, and patient-centered multidisciplinary response.
- Design workforce sustainability strategies incorporating mentorship, reflective practice, wellbeing, cultural humility, and leadership development frameworks to strengthen individual clinicians and Texas SANE programs.
Jenny Black, RN, BSN, SANE-A
Nancy Downing, PhD, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Margaret Bassett, LPC-S
Jenny Black, RN, BSN, SANE-A
Holly Bowles
Ruth Boyce, BSN, RN, SANE-A, CA-SANE
Crystal Conner, MSN, RNC-OB, CA-CP-SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P
Nancy Downing, PhD, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Page Grossman
Chelsea Knutson, PhD, RN, CNE, CA-CP SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P
Beth Maeker, BSN, RN, CA-CP SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P
Paula Marks, RN, SANE-A, CA-SANE
Rachael Reynolds, BSN, RNCOB, CEFM, CA-CP SANE, SANE-A
Leila Wood, PhD, MSSW
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Texas Association for Sexual Assault (TAASA) and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation statements
Nursing (ANCC) Designation: This activity provides up to 17 contact hours.
Certificate of Attendance: The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth certifies this activity for 17 hours of participation.
Available Credit
- 17.00 ANCC
- 17.00 HSC Participation