The new and evolving specialty of forensic nursing is growing across the world and offers opportunities for people with interests in both medicine and law.

Being a Forensic Nurse is not a career for the squeamish or the faint hearted. A forensic nursing career is also not a one-way ticket to riches, but it is one of fastest growing and most interesting fields in nursing.

A Forensic nursing job is a relatively new occupation that combines the health care profession with the judicial system and offers a wide range or directions within the discipline ranging from sexual assault and other criminal cases to dealing with mental illness.

Where did Forensic Nursing Begin?

Forensic Nursing as a specialization began in 1995 with official recognition from the American Nurses Association. In April 2002, the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) held its first international certification exam. The 71 nurses who passed the exam earned the international designation SANE-A (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult and Adolescent).

What is Forensic Nursing?

The new and evolving specialty of forensic nursing encompasses providing care to victims of crime, collecting evidence and providing health care services within the prison system. The forensic nurse may perform death investigations; work with criminals in prison or counsel schoolchildren who fire guns. Forensic nurses are especially needed in the emergency room to collect and package evidence.

Forensic Nursing is defined by The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) as:

“the application of nursing science to public or legal proceedings; the application of the forensic aspects of health care combined with the bio-psycho-social education of the registered nurse in the scientific investigation and treatment of trauma and/or death of victims and perpetrators of abuse, violence, criminal activity and traumatic accidents.” – IAFN 2002.

Forensic Nurses Work With:

• Interpersonal Violence
• Public Health and Safety
• Emergency/Trauma Nursing
• Patient Care Facilities
• Police and Corrections Custody Abuse
• Legal Issues

The Legal Side of the Forensic Nursing Profession

Forensics involves legal issues, and literally means "used in or suitable to courts of law or public debate."

In the USA, when testifying in court, forensic nurses can be qualified as either an expert witness who is allowed to give his or her opinion or a fact witness (who, as the name implies, can only state the facts). This ruling is made by the judge.

The legal procedures differ depending on the country, but the role of the forensic nurse in legal matters is of growing importance as forensic nurses share responsibility with the legal system to augment the resources available to patients with liability-related injuries, crime victims and perpetrators or suspects in police custody.

International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN)

International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) is a US based international membership organization comprised of forensic nurses working around the world as well as other professionals who support and compliment the work of forensic nursing.

The mission of the IAFN is to provide leadership in forensic nursing practice by developing, promoting, and disseminating information internationally about forensic nursing science.

Information about forensic nursing schools, programs, degrees and jobs is available on this website.

United Kingdom Association for Forensic Nurses (UKAFN)

March 2007 saw the official launch of the United Kingdom Association for Forensic Nurses (UKAFN), held at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in South East London. The first association of its kind in Europe, the UKAFN brings together forensic nurses from across the country with the aim of improving conviction rates for sexual offenders. The UKAFN was devised by Jo Delaforce, a Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist at The Haven rape crisis center at King’s College Hospital in London.

Find details about forensic nursing courses on this website.

Specialty Areas Within Forensic Nursing Include:

• Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Forensic Nurse Investigator
• Nurse Coroner/Death Investigator
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
• Legal Nurse Consultant
• Forensic Gerontology Specialist
• Forensic Psychiatric Nurse and
• Correctional Nursing Specialist.

Forensic Nursing Qualifications

For those interested in Forensic Nursing, have a look at these two websites and then t is best to first make enquiries at your relevant local nursing authorities. Courses at varying levels are offered at many colleges and universities.

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What is Forensic Nursing?