What should a nurse prevent a victim of rape from doing prior to a SANE exam?

Before a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam, it is crucial to gather evidence that could be critical for legal purposes. The bodily fluids and DNA from a sexual assault can provide important information for investigations.

Allowing the patient to brush their teeth could compromise this evidence. When the patient brushes their teeth, they may inadvertently remove saliva or other biological material that could be pertinent to the investigation. This is why it is important to prevent actions like brushing teeth, eating or drinking, and washing, as these actions may destroy potential evidence that a SANE exam would ideally collect.

In situations involving a sexual assault, guidance about what actions to avoid is often provided to preserve evidence while still being sensitive to the patient's emotional and physical needs. The priority is to maintain the integrity of the evidence while providing compassionate care to the victim.