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 Forensic
Nursing
Forensic Nursing is one of the newest and most
quickly evolving nursing specialties with a definite
impact on our legal system today. Sub-specialty
areas within this area of nursing are Forensic
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Forensic Investigator,
Nurse Coroner/Death Investigator, Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner, Forensic Gerontology Specialist,
Forensic Psychiatric Nurse, and Correctional
Nursing Specialist. This area of nursing has
been formally recognized as a nursing specialty
since 1995. The International Forensic Nursing
(IAFN) Certification Board was established in
2002. The IAFN certification was developed to
promote the highest standards of forensic nursing
practice through the development, implementation,
coordination and evaluation. There are now over
2,400 members of the IAFN in the U.S. and abroad.
Forensic nursing involves three distinct areas:
- the
application of the nursing-related sciences
to public or legal proceedings
- the application
of the forensic aspects of health care in the
scientific investigation
- the treatment of trauma
or death of victims and perpetrators of abuse,
violence, criminal activity, traumatic accidents
and environmental hazards
Forensic nurses treat a variety of patients
including: sexual assault victims and perpetrators;
victims and perpetrators of partner violence,
child abuse, elder abuse, workplace violence;
juvenile delinquents; victims of traumatic accidents;
patients with criminal backgrounds and mentally
disturbed offenders.
One of the focuses of forensic nursing is to
advocate for and tend to the needs of victims
of violent crime. This can include the survivors,
the deceased, and the families of both.
An example of a workplace setting for a forensic
nurse is in the emergency room where while the
emergency room team is working to save the person’s
life, the forensic nursing collects the evidence.
Sometimes this can even mean following the patient
to the operating room to complete the evidence
collection. In cases such as stabbings or shootings,
forensic nurses collect matter such as bullets
and debris left on the body. They are also left
in charge of removing the bloody clothing that
the victim was wearing and preserving them correctly
for the investigation. The nurse will also photograph
and measure wound sites. If the victim does die,
the forensic nurse examiner will often collaborate
with the medical examiner on the case.
When testifying in court, forensic nurses can
be qualified as either an expert witness or a
fact witness.
Medical Jurisprudence offers services to assist
criminal cases. Some of the services that we
provide related to these types of cases are:
- Reviewing
and analyzing medical records to assess the
extent of injuries to determine if injuries
match history given, to determine if previous
injuries exist, to determine if a medical condition
existed which could contribute to a defendant’s
actions
- Review
and analyze the autopsy record
- Review and analyze
the police report to assess the initial crime
scene, to identify witnesses, to determine
who and what was removed from the original
crime scene
- Review and analyze the forensic science
report to assess if the accursed can be linked
to the scene by trace evidence, fingerprints,
blood, semen, DNA to determine if illicit or
prescription drugs or alcohol was involved
- Assist
in identifying and locating expert witnesses
- Perform
medical research as indicated
Contact us today to discuss how our services
can meet the needs of the criminal cases that
your office is involved in.
References
Wessling, Susan. The Case
for Forensic Nursing Retrieved from www.minortynurse.com/features/nurse_emp/01-09-03
Forensic Nurse Examiners Retrieved September
2006 from www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/emergency
Muscari, Mary. Forensic
Techniques Retrieved
September 2006 from www.nursing.advanceweb.com/common/editorial/PrintFrie
Schlamb, LeAnn E and Mason, Carolyn H. (Spring
2006) Community Violence and Injury Prevention:
Roles for Forensic and Public Health Nurses.
The Official Newsletter
of the International Association of Forensic
Nurses 12(1), 1, 12.
For more information on this issue please
see Contact Us
and see how our services can work for you.
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