Demel and Cara Gibbons are registered nurses at MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital who are certified as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.
They talked about the importance of forensic medical exams for victims of domestic violence and intimate partner violence. They also said there's new funding available for more training in Washington.
Along with providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive medical treatment and care, SANE nurses are trained to recognize and know the physical signs of abuse and potential complications. They collect and document evidence of physical or sexual abuse that may be used in a court case or police proceedings, and ask the victim about the abuse.