Forensic Nursing Practice

Forensic Nursing Courses: Key to a New Career.

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

What is Forensic Nursing?

If you are looking for a new career that will let you help people when they are in their time of despair than you might try being a nurse. If you think nursing sounds interesting but want to have something a little more involved with the criminal justice system than you might try looking at forensic nursing. This is when you are going to help people who have been victims of a crime or were somehow involved in a crime and still preserve the evidence. You will be able to gather samples off of the body when you are helping them as well. This will let you be involved with both the criminal justice system and nursing so that you can get the best of both worlds and make a difference in someone’s life every time that you go to work so that you never get tired of your job and can make a great living.
If you are interested in Forensic Nursing Courses, please review the program.

Forensic Nursing Practice: A Growing Specialty

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
Gavel with red heart and pills on white. Medical law concept.What is Forensic Nursing?

Specialized nurses that focus mainly on medicine with science and criminology as it pertains to the law are known as forensic nurses, and are practicing forensic nursing. Normally forensic nursing consists of assisting forensic scientists and forensic psychologists in collecting data in order to create a more realistic picture of the events that lead to each particular case. They have specialized training in the collection of forensic evidence, as well as criminal procedures and more. They are also called upon in court to provide their forensic expertise in the form of a testimony. The forensic nursing field often works with criminal victims that are the product of violent and intense mental and physical abuse. They serve mainly as the liaison between both the medical field and the criminal justice system. For this reason, it is critical that forensic nurses are familiarized with both fields. With the advancement of forensic technology, forensic nurses play a critical role in the criminal justice system used today.
The majority of forensic nursing is done outside of the hospital. They are normally the first medical representatives called upon to make the first assessments of a victim’s condition and dictate which procedures will follow next. It is typical for forensic nurses to posses the ability to properly asses the victims in a chaotic environment. Some situations can be hectic and a forensic nurse must be able to remain calm and make quick and correct decisions with a stressful situation surrounding them.
Forensic nursing is also needed in other areas outside of the criminal justice world. In the event of a natural disaster, these nurses play a large role in determining whether victims caught in a storm, hurricane, earthquake or flood will make it through alive or not. In the event that there are some people that did not survive a natural disaster, these nurses use their forensic training to help identify bodies and collect evidence to better aid research.

 How to Become a Forensic Nurse?

If you are interested in the forensic nursing field, there are several programs that are designed to train a person and prepare them for this field. First, however, you must become and gain experience as a registered nurse. While you are on your way to becoming a registered nurse, it will be beneficial to take as many courses in forensic science and nursing as possible. Different courses will be available depending upon the school you choose. It is recommended that you consider which course there schools offer before hand as the choices and quality of their course offerings will vary. Attend your chosen college or university and complete your RN degree. This will normally take 2-4 years depending if you decide to get your associates or bachelor degrees. Such degrees offered are normally associates of science in nursing (BSN), associates of science in nursing (BSN), or register in an RN program. Also, you will be required to pass your NCLE exam to gain your license and begin working as a registered nurse. Once you have graduated and accumulate a few years as an RN, you will then have to start specializing in the various forensic nursing fields. Such fields include courses in forensic clinical nursing, correctional nursing, forensic investigation, forensic psychiatric nursing, forensic gerontology, death investigation, sexual assault examination and legal forensics. When you have the appropriate experience working as a registered nurse and have gained knowledge within the previously mentioned fields, you will need to earn your certification that demonstrates this knowledge and commitment to the forensic nursing field. Such certifications include the FNCB, the IAFN, SANE-A and SANE-P certifications and the forensic nurse specialist certification from the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc.
It is a difficult and long road to get into the forensic nursing field however it is a rewarding and interesting profession. As the demand for forensic nursing increases, the salary and benefits for this profession will rise. Currently, forensic nurses can make anywhere between $25-$60 per hour depending upon that persons experience and employer. Many forensic nurses continue to work as registered nurses on a full time bases. This usually is accompanied with an on call forensic nursing status which is paid 1 ½ ties their base pay rate. Whether you are currently working as a registered nurse or looking to gain entry into this field, forensic nursing may provide you with that step up in your career that you have been looking for.

Forensic Nursing Certification: Reaching for Your Dreams!

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Perhaps you watched a bunch of detective shows. Perhaps you always wanted to go into nursing, but “regular” nursing was just too boring for you. Whatever it was, you’ve been thinking about becoming a forensic nurse for a while now. The idea of helping people solve crimes and prosecute them with your scientific knowledge and experience excited you. So now it’s up to you to look into forensic nursing certification.  You will want to study in a place where the schedule works for you. You will want to find a reputable institution with good instructors who remain passionate about their field and can impart their knowledge and interest to their students. You will also want a place that lends credibility to your name after you complete certification. Most of all, you will want to find a place that prepares you for the hard work ahead. After all, you want to feel confident as you pursue the job of your dreams! Forensic nursing certification can prepare you.   So quit staling and start moving forward.   Apply today and start your road to fulfilling your educational goals of becoming a forensic nurse.

Forensic Nursing Certification
Forensic Nursing Certification

Forensic Nursing Certification Bridges the Gap Between Medicine and Law

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

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.

Forensic Nursing: A Rewarding Practice Specialty

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The practice of nursing in the intersection where medical and legal/criminal systems overlap is known as forensic nursing. The basic premise of forensic nursing is that a nurse in this specialty will care for patients who are injured as a result of violence. This can include either the perpetrator or the victim of the violent act, but it is usually the victim who is the patient. Patients who are the victims of abuse, assault or other  physically aggressive violence often suffer from deeply-inflicted trauma in the psychological, physical, and even social senses. A forensic nurse is educated and trained to be an expert in the needs and requirements of the law as it relates to victims and perpetrators of violent crimes, and can play an important role in a legal action. They may provide evidence they have collected, may testify in court regarding the patient and the injuries inflicted, and may play a consulting role for the authorities involved in the legal proceedings.
Just as with any other nurse, the primary responsibility of a forensic nurse is to provide the best possible medical and health care for patients. The difference is that the patients in forensic nursing have been assaulted, abused or otherwise injured, and the nurse is an expert in the optimum treatment for all injuries, whether they are physical or mental. Most often the nature of these injuries is sexual, and rape victims and victims of other types of sexual abuse and aggression are the first patients assigned to a forensic nurse.
Skills in many areas uncommon for a regular nurse come into play in this case. A forensic nurse can identify injuries, professionally evaluate the type and extent of the injuries, document the details and results of the abusive incident, and properly collect and store evidence of the crime, both physical and biological. A forensic nurse must also be able to communicate effectively with legal representatives and law enforcement authorities, and testify as an expert witness in courtroom proceedings regarding the case at hand.
There are different types of forensic nurses, who can specialize even within their specialty, so to speak. Victims of sex crimes will be the majority of the patients in forensic nursing, especially in the US, but there are other areas of specialization possible as well. One track for a forensic nurse to take is to be a death investigator, sometimes even acting as a coroner in local government. These nurses specialize in investigating and documenting the causes and circumstances of death, and in dealing with the legal authorities and families involved as a result of the death.
Having these types of nurses on staff is increasingly important for corrections facilities, psychiatric and mental hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. Specialization is also possible for forensic nurses who are interested in helping victims of domestic violence, and elder and child abuse and neglect, in emergency services facilities and staff training, and in public health clinics and agencies. In all of these cases, the nurse provides care to the patient and interfaces with the legal authorities as needed, but each one requires an extensive knowledge of law and law enforcement in small areas of practice.
Forensic nursing is important in the effort to reduce violent crime because these medical experts can be highly visible members of a team that provides care to victims of violent crimes. Their testimony and the documentation and evidence they can provide may be crucial in obtaining a satisfactory legal outcome for a victim and patient. By fulfilling the role they have chosen, forensic nurses become an important part of the overall effort to administer justice in a community, and will have a very rewarding career.

Forensic Nursing Specialty Practice

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Thank you for visiting our AIHCP web blog. This category of the blog focuses on the specialty practice of Forensic Nursing. Our blog provides our visitors and professional members and students an ever expanding platform for related articles, information, discussions, event announcements and much more. We invite your participation by posting comments, information, sharing and authoring for our blog. Please visit us often and be sure to book mark us!

 

Welcome to the American Institute of Health Care Professionals Blog!

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

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