DC Forensic Nurse Examiners’ Programs

DCFNE provides FREE medical forensic care to those who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence. Our specially trained nurses are on-call 24/7, 365 days a year. All services are provided at no cost to our patients and available regardless of sex, gender, income level, disability, or immigration status. No patient is required to make a report to law enforcement.

DCFNE is the sole provider of medical forensic care for adults in the District and one of only two medical forensic programs that serve adolescents. DCFNE is a member of the DC Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and collaborates with other providers to ensure that each patient receives the highest quality of care.

  • DCFNE is part of the DC SANE program and partners with designated agencies to offer advocacy and accompaniment during each sexual assault exam. DCFNE’s on-call nurses evaluate every patient who presents to any DC hospital for a medical forensic exam following a sexual assault.

    Our nurses are qualified to care for patients who have experienced sexual assault aged 13 and older. DCFNE's sexual assault program is hosted at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC). As a partner in the DC SANE Program, MWHC provides DCFNE with a dedicated exam suite, where our patients can receive care in a private, comfortable setting. For patients who are unable to come to us at MWHC, due to injury or other circumstances, DCFNE nurses are able to travel to any hospital in the District and conduct an exam where the patient is.

    The medical forensic exam can include as much or as little as the patient wishes. For example, the forensic nurse can:

    -Conduct an assault specific history as well as a head-to-toe medical forensic examination and assessment,

    -Document injuries on a body map or by photograph,

    -Collect a sexual assault kit or other potential physical evidence, when indicated,

    -Screen for drug-facilitated sexual assault and collect specimens for toxicology testing, when indicated,

    -Provide medication to address sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and pregnancy prevention, and/or,

    -Provide medical and social services referrals.

    Following the exam, DCFNE’s nurses preserve the chain of custody for all sexual assault kits that are collected. When an assault is reported to law enforcement, the kit is transferred to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If the patient chooses not to report to law enforcement, DCFNE stores the kit securely.

  • DCFNE’s Domestic Violence programs includes services for both Intimate Partner Violence (adult & adolescents) and Family Violence (adults only). DCFNE is the only provider in the District that offers these types of medical forensic exams. DCFNE collaborates with other organizations that offer domestic violence services to ensure that their clients are aware of the benefits of a forensic exam and how to access DCFNE's services.

    DCFNE defines Intimate Partner Violence as assault by a current or former intimate partner.

    DCFNE defines Family Violence as assault by a family member, either legally or blood related.

    DCFNE’s nurses are on-call 24/7 to respond to MedStar Washington Hospital Center within or, for patients whose injuries are severe, at any hospital in the District. For individuals who do not require medical attention, DCFNE also offers scheduled exams at our Forensic Nursing Clinic.

    The medical forensic exam can include as much or as little as the patient wishes. For example, the forensic nurse can:

    -Conduct an assault-specific history, as well as a head-to-toe medical forensic examination and assessment,

    -Document injuries on a body map or by photograph,

    -Complete a strangulation assessment and provide education on signs and symptoms of serious injury.

    -Provide a warm hand-off to an advocate for safety planning, legal advocacy, and other crisis services.

    If a patient would like a free consultation with a nurse before seeking an exam or to make a non-urgent referral for a patient, please complete this form.

  • Since 2019, DCFNE has worked in partnership with the DC Department of Health (DC Health) to implement the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Capacity Building Project.

    The purpose of the project is to:

    -Expand the capacity for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) services in the District of Columbia by promoting forensic nursing, enhance the knowledge base of practicing SANEs, and increase resiliency among SANEs.

    -Improve the District’s capacity to manage the medical care of patients who have experienced sexual assault by streamlining hospital triage and transfer policies and providing training to personnel at acute care hospitals in the District.

    If you work for a DC hospital and would like training on how to respond to patients seeking care after a sexual assault, contact us at contact@dcfne.org to learn more.

  • Visit our education page to learn more about the trainings we offer for forensic nurses, and check out our events page for upcoming opportunities.