SANE / FNE — Why It’s Long, Invasive and Still So Important!

Episode 11: SANE/FNE Exams — Why They’re Long, Invasive, and Still So ImportantRight after trauma, everything can feel blurry. You’re trying to breathe, trying to understand what just happened, trying to feel your body again, then someone asks a question that can feel overwhelming: “Do you want a forensic exam?” For many survivors, that question lands like pressure. Like a deadline. Like you’re being asked to make a life-altering decision while you’re still in shock.In this episode of Walk With Me!, David Torres breaks down what a SANE/FNE exam actually is (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner / Forensic Nurse Examiner), why it often takes hours, why it can feel invasive even when the staff is compassionate, and what the process is designed to do: medical care, documentation, and evidence collection all while centering your consent as much as possible.We talk about the piece many people don’t realize until they’re in the room: you are in control the entire time. You can ask what’s happening before it happens. You can say no to any part. You can pause, take breaks, or stop completely. You can request an advocate or support person. You can receive medical care without agreeing to evidence collection. And in many places, evidence can sometimes be collected and stored even if you’re not ready to report immediately (policies vary by location). The point is this: choosing an exam does not make you stronger, and declining one does not make you weaker. Your worth isn’t measured by what you choose in a moment of crisis.We also talk about why these exams still matter especially in a world where rape kit backlogs and delayed testing have been a real issue. Testing matters for survivors who want options later, and it can also matter for public safety when cases are linked and serial offenders are identified. None of this is meant to pressure you. It’s meant to empower you with clarity because fear grows in silence, and knowledge reduces panic.Follow Me on Social MediaYouTube: @WalkWithMe-PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkwithme.podcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@walkwithmepodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walk-with-me-podcast-341201356/Website & ResourcesNational Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) — https://www.thehotline.orgRAINN: 800-656-HOPE (4673) — https://www.rainn.org988 Lifeline: call/text 988 — https://988lifeline.orgIAFN (Forensic Nursing / SANE info): https://www.forensicnurses.orgWebsite: https://www.walkwithmepod.comWeekly Challenge: Take 15 minutes to look up SANE/FNE services near you and save it in your phone because you deserve information before you ever need it. And this week, thank a nurse. Forensic nurses and advocates do some of the hardest work in medicine, and it deserves recognition.Until then — take care of yourself.And I’ll see you on the path.