| Name: |
Forensic
Nurse |
| Description: |
Forensic
nursing combines clinical nursing practice with
the law enforcement arena. It involves the
investigation and treatment of victims of sexual
assault, elder, child and spousal abuse,
unexplained or accidental death, trauma and
assault as well as perpetrators of these and any
criminal activity |
| Practice
roles: |
Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), nurse coroner,
nurse investigator, correctional nurse, forensic
psychiatric nurse, pediatric/geriatric nurse
educator, researcher, consultant |
| Characteristics: |
Challenging
opportunities to combine nursing knowledge with
investigative and counseling skills. Chance to be
part of a new and emerging specialty |
| Drawbacks: |
Working
with victims/perpetrators of violent crime and/or
abuse can be emotionally taxing. Limited
full-time, paid opportunities available as this
is a new and emerging field that sometimes relies
on grants and government funding |
| Desirable
skills: |
Psychiatric/ED
background helpful for some specialties.
Willingness to work with extremes of human
behavior |
| Education: |
Varied.
Degree programs available in forensic nursing but
not required for entry into profession.
Certification courses generally required for
SANE, forensic pediatric/geriatric nurse.
Forensic psychiatric nurse requires MS with
counseling certification |
| Employers: |
Acute
healthcare facilities, correctional institutions,
county prosecutor and coroner’s office,
medical examiner’s office, insurance
companies, psychiatric facilities |
| Associations: |
|
| Publications: |
| Scope and
Standards of Forensic Nursing Educational
Guidelines for Sexual Assault Nurse
Examiners (Adult and Peds)
Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner Standards of Practice
|
|
