Forensic nursing

In honor of Forensic Nursing Week scheduled for November 11-15, 2019, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at what this area of interest nursing specialty is all about!

Who is a forensic nurse?

Forensic nursing is an exciting nursing specialty that requires nurses to be on the forefront of nursing care and on the intersection of healthcare and the legal system. Forensic nurses are called upon to look after patients who’re victims of violent crimes. This can include, but shouldn’t be limited to, crimes involving trauma, abuse, rape, robbery, and assault. Forensic nursing combines nursing, science, and the legal system. This patient population requires specialized care facilitated by a talented nurse who’s capable of provide compassionate care and patient advocacy while preserving and collecting medical evidence that may potentially be utilized in court. A forensic nurse may even be called upon to testify as an authority witness, so that they should have a robust interest within the criminal justice system and the legal system. In the hospital setting, forensic nurses are most frequently present in emergency departments. In an outpatient setting, a forensic nurse may fit and collaborate with coroners, health workers, pathologists, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations that help victims of trauma or abuse. A forensic nurse may additionally be called upon within the event of a mass casualty or community emergency.

Specific Functions of the Forensic Nurse Role

In the emergency department setting, the forensic nurse’s duties may include conducting an in depth history, performing a physical examination, collecting/photographing evidence (stays, body fluids, etc.), photographing injuries, managing wounds, interviewing the patient/family, and at last reporting to local law enforcement and child/adult protective services. In the community setting, duties may vary greatly, with some similarities, and should include taking blood/tissue samples, responding to the scene of an accident or death, photographing injuries/crime scenes, collecting evidence, assisting with autopsies, and maybe acting as a deputy coroner. Regardless of where they practice, the forensic nurse is all the time expected to finish detailed documentation, act as a liaison between the victim/family/law enforcement/social services, provide comfort to victims/families, and consult with resources including mental health counseling, shelters, etc.

Forensic Nurse Qualifications

Nurses curious about specializing in forensics have several options. All options begin with completing a nursing degree program, whether it’s an undergraduate or graduate program, and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). From there, a nurse can enroll in a bachelor’s degree program in forensic nursing while gaining clinical experience as a nurse. A registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree may decide to pursue a master’s degree in nursing that makes a speciality of forensic nursing. From 2012 to 2017, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offered a sophisticated practice forensic nurse specialist certification (AFN-BC). This certification was retired in 2017, but advanced practice nurses who hold this certification can still renew your certification through ANCC. Additionally, a nurse with a master’s degree has the choice of selecting a forensic nursing certification program so as to add a specialization to their current degree. Depending on the role of the forensic nurse, they might want to pursue two other skilled credentials: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) and/or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Pediatric (SANE-P) through the Forensic Nurse Certification Commission (CFNC).

Forensic Nursing Resources

There are many sources where you possibly can learn more about this specialty. International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) is a forensic science-based organization that gives education, certification, and networking opportunities to members. Many states have IAFN chapters that help forensic nurses network and address state and native issues. American Forensic Nurse (AFN) is a California forensic nurse organization that can be a helpful resource. is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal that “addresses health care issues that extend beyond health care and legal systems by articulating nursing’s responses to violence.”

In 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that there have been 1,206,836 violent crimes within the United States, leading to countless deaths (FBI, 2018). The forensic nurse is essentially the most capable healthcare skilled who can provide compassionate, holistic nursing care to those patients while also assisting with the legal points of the case. So, in the course of the month of November, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the wonderful subspecialty of forensic nursing!

Federal Bureau of Investigations: 2018 Crime within the United States. Downloaded from https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-us/2018/crime-in-the-us-2018/topic-pages/violent-crimes