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With the continuing rise in crime rates, forensic
nursing is quickly becoming a popular part of the American judicial system.
Forensic nursing is one of the newest forms of forensic sciences recognized
by the American Nurses Association. The new field combines the health care
profession with the judicial system.
Nurses trained in
forensic
nursing are needed to quickly and appropriately gather evidence that can
be used in a court of law. Along with gathering forensic information, they
also testify in trials of their jurisdictions.
The appeal of forensic nursing is mainly with victims of
violence. Multiple people are seeing victims, social workers, doctors, the
police etc. This can be hard on the victim. Having one expert that can do
everything from start to finish including going to trial would make it a lot
less stressful for the victim.
Because forensic nursing is such a new and growing
specialty, it offers great opportunities for recent nursing graduates and
experienced RN’s looking for a career change.
In 1992, approximately seventy nurses gathered together
in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the first national convention for sexual
assault nurses. This convention led to the founding of the IAFN, the
International Association of Forensic Nurses.
Their mission statement was the concept of nurses willing
to devote their energy and resources to develop a role in nursing that can
have a impact on the future of forensic science and the health care
industry.
Forensic nurses practice in many diverse fields. They
range from nurses who specialize in domestic violence, emergency trauma, and
sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE’s), witch SANE’s are often the entry
point into forensic nursing. Forensic nurses may also serve as legal nurse
consultants or attorneys.
The education for forensic nursing vary. Degree programs
are available in forensic nursing but are not required for entry into the
profession. Certification courses required for the SANE program is a good
start.
The employers of forensic nursing specialists vary as
well. They include acute healthcare facilities, correctional institutions,
county prosecutors, coroner’s offices, medical examiner’s offices, insurance
companies, and psychiatric facilities.
Another opportunity is working independently on a per job
basis to all of these employers - starting a forensic nursing business.
The industry of forensic nursing is only
getting more and more attractive to nurses that really want to make a
difference in the community around them. It’s an opportunity for them to
help victims of violence and helping the perpetrators of violence to get
help. |
