America’s Nurses Interview Article – Forensic Nurse

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What does a Forensic Nurse Do?

A forensic nurse primarily treats patients who have been victims of a crime. They must also be available to be a witness in court when there has been a crime committed on a patient that the forensic nurse has treated. Many times they are introduced to a victim who comes into the Emergency Room for treatment. Thorough investigation of the patient’s health condition is crucial in collecting evidence that will lead to the perpetrator of the crime. The Forensic nurse may be called any time of day or night since gathering evidence of an assault needs to be immediate before the patient can be medically treated. She should collect samples of anything foreign such as hair, blood, semen, or other evidence that does not belong to the body of the patient. Every finding needs to be documented and sent to a lab for results. In the past few years, collecting foreign DNA has been crucial because of its significance in investigating the crime by law officers. This DNA is also important evidence in a criminal case that can bring a criminal to justice. Forensic nurses are also trained in criminal law, so they are prepared to present evidence to a judge in a court of law.

Treatment

The forensic nurse may also assist in the medical and psychological treatment of the victim. In cases such as rape, the forensic nurse will aid in the examination and treatment to prevent pregnancy or sex-related diseases. They are also instrumental in referring the patient to agencies that can help her with treatment and psychological trauma, which she may be experiencing.

What Should I Know Before Becoming a Forensic Nurse?

An interview with Dr. Carter-Snell was conducted by Forensic Colleges in order to gain her knowledge and expertise in the forensic nurse field. Dr. Carter-Snell is from Canada and teaches forensic nursing at the university level. She has been a professor at Mount Royal University in Alberta, Canada for 17 years. She has a PhD with a focus on Forensics. She wrote most of the curriculum for the courses she taught and is extensive in the scope of all aspects of forensic science. Dr. Carter-Snell not only teaches nurses how to physically handle a victim, but also how to help them psychologically since many victims are embarrassed or uneasy about being treated. Some may have fear that they will be attacked again once released from the hospital. They have been known to experience PTSD and anxiety. It is important to clean them up first right after gathering forensic materials that may exist.

Coursework

Case studies on patients should include videos, photos, and interviews. All evidence should be collected the first time a forensic nurse treats a patient because they cannot rely totally on memory once back at the job and at work sorting through evidence. Emergency room and trauma centers are a good place to start learning about forensic science. A forensic nurse needs to be alert and meticulous in gathering evidence while consistently reassuring the patient that all is being done to bring the perpetrator to justice. According to Dr. Carter-Snell, “My job is to help my students see the links between the ink that is drying on the page and the patients that they are seeing.”

Types of Forensic Nursing Jobs Available

If you are considering the field of Forensic Nursing, the following are eight brief descriptions of the types of forensic nurses you can choose from. A more detailed description of these can be found at AllNursingSchools.com:

•Correctional Nursing Specialists: Work in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities treating the sick and administering needed medication to people with chronic needs.

•Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialists: Hold a Master’s degree or Doctoral Forensic Nursing degree and serve as expert clinicians, teachers, researchers, consultants, and administrators.

•Forensic Gerontology Specialists: Help investigate cases involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elders and raise awareness of legal and human rights issues.

•Forensic Nurse Investigators: Investigate and uncover the circumstances surrounding an unexpected or violent death.

•Forensic Psychiatric Nurses: Manage offenders with psychological, social, and behavioral disorders. Assess for treatment, provide rehabilitative care, and supervise a patient’s actions within the community.

•Legal Nurse Consultants: Aid attorneys working on civil cases where the law and medicine overlap. This might include medical malpractice, personal injury, or worker’s compensation.

•Nurse Coroners of Death Investigators: Apply nursing skills to crime scene investigations. They are the first to arrive at the scene of a crime and examine the body at the crime site.

•Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners: Offer compassionate, prompt care to victims of sexual assault. Assess and evaluate injuries that the victim has suffered.

Summary

No matter which field of forensic nursing you enter; you can have a positive impact on the victims and their families. You can offer not only your expertise, but also your compassion to the victims as well. By investigating and putting criminals in jail, you are also making an impact to not only the victim, but to the community as well. Many times, you may find the opportunity to educate the public on crime prevention and rapid report of a crime to the authorities.