Tessa Proffitt’s life is nothing like an episode of “CSI.” Proffitt does not wear a badge or carry a gun. Instead her weapons of choice are cotton swabs and high-powered digital cameras.
Proffitt is a sexual assault nurse examiner employed by the Johnson City Medical Center. For the last three years she has collected forensic evidence from victims of sexual violence and abuse. Proffitt is a veteran of nearly every situation.
“We see everything from the cradle to the grave,” Proffitt said.
The youngest victim ever treated by the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program at the JCMC was 29 days old. The oldest victim was 74 years old.
Proffitt is one of five forensic nurses currently employed by the JCMC. She works 25 to 30 hours a week. Her patients include men and women, children and adults.
Rape kits performed by forensic nurses like Proffitt hold up better in court and have more credibility. Becoming certified as a forensic nurse is “almost like going through nursing school all over again” Proffitt said. Before certification, SANE nurses must perform 50 pelvic exams and 10 rape kits. They must also put in time at a crime lab, at the district attorney’s office and with the sexual assault response team.
The SANE program at the JCMC is the only one of its kind in the Tri-Cities area. Not surprisingly, there is a high burnout rate in the profession. Since July of 2006 Proffitt has already seen 41 cases. Sexual assault nurse examiners can expect to see between 115-150 cases a year, Proffitt said.
The proceeds from several ETSU events for Women’s History Month will go towards the SANE program at the JCMC.
“Both males and females benefit, and both adults and children benefit,” said Kim Bushore-Maki of the ETSU Counseling Center. Bushore-Maki is the coordinator for the events that will benefit the SANE program.
“This is a very good program because it helps everyone,” Bushore-Maki said.
One event that will benefit the SANE program is the 4th annual Take Back the Night 5K race. In the last four years the Take Back the Night Race has raised $9,000 for SANE. The race will be held on March 31 on the ETSU campus. Registration costs $15 and members of the State of Franklin Track Club can receive $1 off of the registration fee.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in front of Nicks Hall. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. A variety of prizes and awards will be available for teams and individuals.
On March 29 a candlelight vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. The program will be held in the Borchuck Plaza, in front of the Sherrod Library. The vigil is in honor of the survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
“The purpose of the program is to give a voice to people who have been silent about abuse or assault, and who have suffered,” Bushore-Maki said, “in particular sexual abuse or assault, but not limited to sexual.”
White candles can be purchased for $1; all proceeds from the candles will go towards the SANE program. A program of music, a drum circle, songs and reflection is scheduled; this program will be followed by a reception.
From March 26 through March 29 students can meet in the Atrium of the D.P. Culp Center for the Clothesline Project. Students can design poster-board “T-shirts” displaying messages in support of non-violence.
“The Clothesline Project is a visual testimony that represents a voice for survivors of violence,” Bushore-Maki said.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. T-shirts designed at this event will hang on a clothesline near the finish line of the Take Back the Night race.
Proffitt could not be more thankful for what these events do for their program.
“Take Back the Night helps us buy equipment,” Proffitt said. “It’s amazing.”
Last year the SANE program was able to buy a colposcope with the money raised by Take Back the Night. Colposcopes are digital cameras that can magnify an image up to 30 times better than the naked eye, and can find damage done to the vagina that a nurse examiner might not be able to find.
“Seventy-five percent of all evidence we get from the colposcope we wouldn’t be able to see with the naked eye,” Proffitt said. Images from the colposcope also have good credibility in the courtroom, due to the fact that the images cannot be altered in any way.
Due to the difficult nature of the profession there is a high burnout rate for forensic nurses.
Once a year Proffitt takes a month off from work to recover and spend time with her family. The demands on her are high, and the emotional costs are heavy. Proffitt remains resilient about her calling.
“I do it for the victims,” she said.
For additional information regarding these events, call Bushore-Maki or Deyton at the ETSU Counseling Center at 439-4841.

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