Forensic Nurses: Suspect Examinations

Course Description

This course discusses the use of suspect exams during forensic care. Suspect exams are extremely valuable for multiple types of exams besides just sexual assault (ie, homicide, child abuse, intimate partner violence, etc.).

Learning Outcomes

After attending this online training, 85% of learners will self-report an increase in knowledge of performing suspect exams.

Content Warning

The content in this course necessarily discusses the sexual assault of people, which may be emotionally and intellectually challenging. We do our best to make this course a space where we can engage bravely, empathetically, and thoughtfully with difficult content. This course includes realistic portrayals of patients that have experienced sexual assault and may be triggering for some.

2026 Session Details

Session	IHS Registration OPEN Date	Registration OPEN Date	Registration CLOSE Date	Course Begins	Course Ends
1	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

This is an online asynchronous course.

Nursing Professional Development

0.75 hours awarded upon completion

Alternate Continuing Education

N/A

Course Price

Non-Texas Resident	Texas Resident	HRSA Grantee	IHS Participant
$20	$20	$20	$20

Non-Texas Resident: Health care professionals who do not reside or work in a Texas health care facility.

Texas Resident: Health care professionals who reside or work in a Texas health care facility. Proof of Texas residence or Texas employment will be required to register.

HRSA Grantee: Health care professional who has submitted an application for the HRSA Grantee program and has been approved.

IHS Participant: Attending on behalf of Indian Health Service (IHS).

Delivery Modality

This self-paced course will be delivered completely online.

Once you are registered, you will be loaded to the online course in Canvas and provided information on how to create a username/password and access the Canvas Learning Management System.

Prerequisite

Learners must be an RN or APRN with at least a minimum of two years of experience as a nurse.

Adult SANE cannot be taken at the same time as the Pediatric SANE Education course.

Anyone enrolled without meeting the prerequisite requirement will be removed from the course, and no refund will be provided.

Cancellation & Refund Policies

Cancellation of Course

In the event Texas A&M University cancels a course, or there is a weather or disaster event, a full refund will be provided to all learners.

Registration Transfers – No Refund

Registration fees are non-refundable. If learners are unable to complete or attend a course, registration will be allowed to be transferred, one (1) time as a courtesy to the same course at a future date. To request transfer to a future instance of the same course, please email Texas A&M Health Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing at forensicnursing@tamu.edu 72 hours prior to the start time of the originally scheduled course. Afterwards, no transfers will be made. Emergencies will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

The education is supported by the Texas Attorney General (OAG) under contract #2094878-01, entitled Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program, totaling $500,000 for Texas residents and those who are employed in Texas health care facilities.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #T96HP32499, Advanced Nurse Education – Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, totaling $1,500,000, with zero percent financed by non-governmental sources. The contents and opinions are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

The Texas A&M University College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

The Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.