Registered nurses who want to make a difference in the lives of victims of violence should consider pursing forensic nursing. In the United States forensic nurses play a crucial role in providing both emergency nursing care to patients and preserving biological and physical evidence that can help bring criminals to justice. These specialized medical professionals are often called upon to provide sworn statements for legal proceedings in cases where a victim has been physically or sexually assaulted. The skills learned during the certification process for forensic nursing include injury identification, assessment, documentation and collection of evidence for criminal investigations. Many practicing nurses enjoy the challenges involved with caring for patients who are victims of violence as this type of work involves continuous learning. In some communities where there is no coroner available, forensic nurses may conduct death investigation work. Nurses who have achieved certification in forensics also find work as legal nurse consultants to law firms and insurance companies.
