The document discusses different types of forensic nursing specialties including sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs), legal nurse consultants, forensic psychiatric nurses, forensic nurse death investigators, and forensic correctional nurses. It provides details on the roles, training, and responsibilities of each specialty. The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) was founded in 1992 and represents over 74 nurses across various forensic nursing fields. While certification is currently only required for SANEs, many forensic nurses believe certification will be needed in other specialties in the future.

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.