‘The Pitt’s’ Most Powerful Episode Yet Focuses on a SANE Nurse — Why It Matters to Nurses

Image source: HBO

In a long line of medical dramas, few shows have committed to telling nursing stories with the depth and realism that The Pitt does. In Season 2, Episode 7, titled “1:00 PM,” the series offers one of its most poignant and educational portrayals yet: a respectful, trauma-informed sexual assault examination conducted by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).

This stands out on its own, but when viewed alongside the prior Episode 6, which put an extended spotlight on the nursing staff and their emotional labor, it positions The Pitt as one of the few dramas that gives nurses not just screen time but narrative weight. Spoiler alert: if you haven’t watched S2E7 yet, be aware that specific scenes are discussed below.

Episode 6: Setting the Stage for Nursing Focus

Episode 6 shifted its narrative lens toward the broader nursing staff, highlighting the depth of their emotional investment and the interconnectedness of their roles in the ED. It was notable not just for its plot but also for how it centered nurses as professionals whose expertise and empathy drive patient care, a departure from how media typically positions nurses as background support.

That episode anchors the dramatic world of The Pitt in the real human cost of nursing — emotionally, physically, and psychologically — preparing the audience for a more intimate look at a specialty role like the SANE in the following hour.

Episode 7: A Trauma-Informed SANE Narrative

In “1:00 PM,” the emergency department at PTMC receives Ilana, a young woman who has experienced sexual assault. Charge nurse Dana Evans, played by Emmy Award-winner Katherine LaNasa, is the only certified SANE on shift, and guides Ilana through the forensic exam process. The show clearly depicts both the technical requirements and the patient-centered communication that define high-quality SANE care.

According to the show’s creators and production team, The Pitt’s writers consulted with real-world experts — including the UCLA Health Rape Treatment Center and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape — to portray the exam accurately.

As part of that effort, actress Katherine LaNasa discussed the preparation: “I went back a second time because I knew I was going to have to use the kit... I wanted it to look like I had used the kit many times and I knew what I was doing.”

The attention to detail extends to how the interaction is framed. Through careful language and repeated reminders, Ilana is told that she is in control of what happens next.

Most depictions of sexual assault in television focus on the trauma of the event itself. The Pitt instead focuses on the care that follows, illustrating how a SANE’s role blends clinical precision with emotional support. The show avoids sensationalizing the assault or the exam, instead emphasizing dignity, agency, and the bravery it takes for a survivor to seek care.

 

SANE Shortages Hit Hard

Real-world SANE gaps mirror the show's tension. A 2020 analysis of 345 rural U.S. hospitals showed only 42.5% with any continuous SANE coverage overall, and just 10.3% for typical mid-sized facilities (101-200 beds), leaving many survivors to wait days for exams due to backlogs, or travel vast distances due to thin staffing. Furthermore, dedicated academic pathways for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners remain limited, exascerbating the shortage, with most SANEs completing certification through specialized 40-hour training programs rather than traditional degree tracks.

Dana voices this issue: “We’re not going to make this patient wait. And since I’m the only SANE on staff...” Dana trains newbie Emma on-site, stressing certification needs as holiday delays compound chaos. 

The show leveraged SANE experts and an intimacy coordinator for accuracy, like precise gown handling: “One arm comes out of the sleeve, then I hold up her gown this way.”

The exam unfolds step-by-step: intake with Dr. Al-Hashimi's screening, black light scans for fluids (gown draped for dignity), evidence bagging, and patient-led pauses. Dana's own past assault adds raw depth; she briefly breaks down but regains composure to finish the job and steadies herself to seal the kit, advancing justice without drama.

Why This Matters to Nurses — On and Off Screen

For many nurses, accurate portrayals of nursing practice in mainstream media are rare. Historically, television has simplified or stereotyped nursing roles, often portraying nurses as assistants to physicians rather than as clinical leaders and patient advocates in their own right. But The Pitt tackles these issues head-on, like no show before it, showing:

• SANE work is complex and specialist. The episode demonstrates the depth of training and skill required to perform a trauma-informed forensic exam well.
• Patient agency matters. The persistent reminder that the patient is in control reflects core principles of trauma-informed care.
• Media portrayals can shape public understanding. When shows depict nursing roles authentically, they reduce misconceptions and help viewers appreciate the expertise involved.

The early critical response to The Pitt from healthcare professionals underscores how meaningful authentic representation can be. Nurses who work in emergency departments describe the show’s realism so intensely that some say they “urge family members to watch it to understand their jobs.” Others on social media praised the episode saying: “They put a LOT of care into that story line, starting with making it explicit that Dana was SANE certified.”

Episode 7 of The Pitt does more than depict a difficult medical situation — it educates viewers about the specialized care nurses provide in deeply vulnerable moments, and it does so with respect and accuracy. By anchoring the narrative in patient dignity and professional expertise, the show reinforces why nurses’ voices and experiences deserve to be shown — and heard — with nuance and truth.

🤔Nurses, are you watching The Pitt? Share your thoughts below.