Description of forensic nursing

2. WHAT DOES FORENSIC MEAN?
• ANYTHING BELONGING TO, OR PERTAINING TO, THE LAW
• FORENSIC NURSING IS THE APPLICATION OF NURSING SCIENCE TO PUBLIC OR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

3. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FORENSIC NURSES (IAFN)
• FOUNDED IN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1992
• 74 NURSES THAT CONSISTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS

4. DIVERSITY OF THE IAFN
• FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC
• LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANTS
• FORENSIC NURSE DEATH INVESTIGATORS
• FORENSIC CORRECTIONAL NURSES

5. SANE NURSE
• SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER (SANE)
• SANE IS AN RN THAT IS TRAINED IN THE FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS
• SANE’S HAVE ADVANCED EDUCATION AND CLINICAL PREPARATIONS SPECIALIZED IN THIS AREA
• SANE OFFERS THE COMPASSION AND CARE THAT IS OFTEN LACKING IN LAWENFORCEMENT
• RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SANE EVIDENCE COLLECTION HAS LEAD TO MORE EFFECTIVE
INVESTIGATIONS AND SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS

6. LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANT
• A LNC IS A LICENSED RN WHO CRITICALLY EVALUATES AND ANALYZES HEALTH CARE ISSUES IN MEDICALLY
RELATED LAW SUITS.
• THEY COMBINE THEIR MEDICAL EXPERTISE WITH THE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE TO ASSESS THEIR CLIENTS
• THEY WORK WITH ATTORNEYS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
• THEY MAY HAVE INDEPENDENT PRACTICES, WORK IN HOSPITALS, OR WORK IN LAW FIRMS

7. ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY THE LNC
• DRAFTING LEGAL DOCUMENTS
• INTERVIEWING WITNESSES
• EDUCATING ATTORNEYS
• REVIEWING, ANALYZING, AND SUMMARIZING MEDICAL RECORDS
• ASSESSING CAUSATIONS AND ISSUES OF DAMAGES
• PROVIDING SUPPORT DURING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

8. FORENSIC NURSE DEATH INVESTIGATOR
• TO ADVOCATE FOR THE DECEASED
• ACCURATELY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH
• RN WITH SPECIALIZED EDUCATION
• SOMETIME THEY CAN PRACTICE AS CORONER
• THEY HAVE ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE GRIEF PROCESS

9. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FNDI
• RESPONDS TO SCENES OF DEATH
• EXAMINE BODIES
• PRONOUNCE DEATH
• TAKE TISSUE AND BLOOD SAMPLES
• COLLECT EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE

10. FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC NURSE
• WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND WHO HAVE ENTERED THE LEGAL SYSTEM
• PRACTICE IN STATE INSTITUTIONS, JAILS, AND PRISONS
• PERFORM PHYSICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENTS
• FPN MAY HAVE ADVANCED PRACTICE CERTIFICATIONS
• THEY ARE ALSO RN’S WITH MASTER DEGREES IN PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
• MAY PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS

11. FORENSIC CORRECTIONAL NURSE
• NURSES THAT PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FOR INMATES IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
• THEY MANAGE ACUTE AND CHRONIC ILLNESS
• DEVELOP HEALTH CARE PLANS AND PREFORM HEALTH SCREENINGS AND HEALTH EDUCATIONS
• OFFERS HIGH LEVEL OF AUTONOMY

12. EVOLVING REQUIREMENTS
• THERE IS NO OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION AS A FORENSIC NURSE IN THE USA EXCEPT FOR THE SANE
CERTIFICATION
• MANY NURSES WORKING IN THE ROLES BELIEVE CERTIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED IN THE FUTURE

13. REFERENCES
CATALANO, J.T., (2009), NURSING NOW! TODAY’S ISSUES, TOMORROWS TRENDS. F.A. DAVIS COMPANY:
PHILADELPHIA, PA.