What is a Forensic Nurse?
A forensic nurse is a nurse who provides specialized care for patients who are victims and/or perpetrators of trauma (both intentional and unintentional). Forensic Nurses are NURSES first and foremost. However, the specialized role of forensic nurses goes far beyond medical care; forensic nurses also have a specialized knowledge of the legal system and skills in injury identification, evaluation and documentation. After attending to a patient’s immediate medical needs, a forensic nurse often collects evidence, provides medical testimony in court, and consults with legal authorities.
Forensic nurses work in a variety of fields, including sexual assault (as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners or SANEs), domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, elder mistreatment, death investigation, corrections, and in the aftermath of mass disasters.
There are many roles that a forensic nurse can specialize in. The following list is meant to give some helpful ideas of careers for forensic nursing, and should not be viewed as a complete list of nuring career choices.
- SANE (Sexual Assult Nurse Examiner)
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- Death Investigation
- Expert Witness
- Correctional Nursing
- Medical Legal Consultant
IAFN 2014
www.iafn.org
Forensic Nursing Documentary
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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“Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where
there is no path
and leave a trail.”
—Harold R. McAlindon |
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