What is a Forensic Nurse?

• Throughout my career, I have dabbled in the forensic nursing specialty. 
• Are you wondering, “What is a forensic nurse?”  
• Let’s break it down and cover everything you should know about being a forensic nurse! 

What is Forensic Nursing? What is a Forensic Nurse?

The International Association of Forensic Nurses defines this area of nursing as providing  

“…specialized care for patients who are experiencing acute and long-term health consequences associated with victimization or violence, and/or have unmet evidentiary needs relative to having been victimized or accused of victimization.” 

Forensic nurses will work with both law enforcement and other healthcare providers to gather evidence that can be used in a court of law.  

It is not uncommon for these nurses to be called upon to provide testimony for civil and criminal proceedings related to nursing practice, also. 

Now that the questions of “what is forensic nursing?” and “what is a forensic nurse?” have been covered, let’s break it down into more detail! 

Do I Need a Special Degree to Become a Forensic Nurse?

Forensic nursing, like most nursing specialties, requires one to have an RN license, which means a nurse must complete a four-year program at an accredited university and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. 

Typically, one does not need a master’s degree in forensic nursing to land a job in this field. 

Many nurses find footing into forensic nursing by becoming a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).

Areas of Forensic Nursing

Sure, we’ve answered the broad question of, “what is a forensic nurse?” but what can one do as a career within this field?  

There are plenty of options, and we will break down a few of them! Let’s check it out!

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Adult or Pediatric)

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) work in hospitals or various other clinical settings and complete forensic exams on sexual assault victims.  

They collect evidence for forensic testing, including but not limited to photos of injuries, swabs of different areas of the body, clothing fibers or hair found on the victim, victims’ personal clothing.  

Additionally, SANEs may be called to testify in court on their findings.

Forensic Gerontology Specialist

These specialists are typically found in hospitals or nursing homes and assist with investigations of the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors.  

They are the main advocate for these individuals and will work closely with social services, legal representation, and law enforcement.

Forensic Psychiatric Nurse

This is a newly emerging specialty in forensic nursing! 

Forensic psychiatric nurses typically focus on offenders rather than victims. Oftentimes, they will work out of hospitals, correctional, and behavioral facilities.  

The primary focus of this specialty is to provide both physical and mental health evaluations on offenders. These results may or may not be used in a court of law.

Nurse Coroners or Death Investigators

This specialty goes hand-in-hand with forensic nurse investigators, as it also involves working alongside a coroner. 

Rather than focusing on evidence collection, a nurse in this specialty of forensics is responsible for working with the rest of the medical forensics team in determining a victim’s cause and time of death as well as if foul play was involved.  

Although they themselves might not be tasked with evidence collection, they possess a thorough understanding of how these processes work. 

As previously mentioned, these specialized nurses will also be found working out of a coroner’s or medical examiner’s office.

Additionally, SANEs may be called to testify in court on their findings.

Forensic Gerontology Specialist Legal Nurse Consultants

Nurses in this specialty of forensics will assist attorneys by providing clinical expertise regarding medical issues.  

Understandably, these professionals are limited in the scope in which they can offer advice. 

The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) identifies 13 areas in which a legal nurse consultant may advise. A few of these areas include medical malpractice, personal injury, elder law, workers’ compensation, and forensic/criminal.  

Typically, a legal nurse consultant can be found working in government offices, insurance companies, or other legal departments.

Correctional Nursing Specialists

This field works with individuals who are incarcerated.  

A few of their daily tasks include performing intake exams, distributing daily medications, and assessing patient needs.  

These nurses must possess a broad set of skills in multiple disciplines, such as: mental health, chronic medical conditions, substance abuse, infectious disease, and injuries.

Professional Resources

As with any profession, continuing education and networking are extremely important.  

This allows nurses to talk with other individuals in the same field while also exploring new avenues in the forensic nursing spectrum.  

There are several resources for forensic nurses to utilize, let’s check out a couple: 

The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) 

This networking association holds yearly conferences and publishes academic papers on forensic nursing. The IAFN runs the Journal of Forensic Nursing and provides continuing education.  

The Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Technical Assistance (SAFEta)  

This program is an association that allows nurses access to the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations. 

It also provides other resources including training standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners.  

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