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S.A.N.E. nurses in Fort Stockton and Pecos Cty Memorial Hospital
Fort Stockton and Pecos County Memorial Hospital is able to offer a very special program to people in the surrounding area. Three nurses, Monica Sherwood, Nanette Parras and Angela Harral have completed extensive training and are certified as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or S.A.N.E. nurses.
These ladies have been specially trained to deal with victims of sexual assault, both adults and children. They are trained to maintain the chain of evidence, reassure the victim while gathering information, and ascertaining the extent of the injury to the victim.
In addition to the training for the nurses, the hospital has purchased a Colposcope, a lighted magnifying instrument that will be used by the nurses to examine the tissues of the vagina and the cervix. The procedure is called colposcopy. When the machine arrives, the staff will receive eight hours training from Cooper Surgical, the company that makes the machine.
Hospital Administrator Russell Tippin appeared before City Council Monday, February 11, to discuss the program. The Texas Attorney General's office will reimburse the police up to $700 for each examination ordered by the police. Tippin suggested that the hospital would accept as payment the amount the AG's office sends to the city. Council accepted the proposal.
This service has become even more important to the area since Odessa has lost all its S.A.N.E. certified nurses. This will be the only program in the area. Women and children who have been assaulted can find a safe and secure environment with compassionate, well trained professionals to help them.
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