If you have ever watched any of the CSI programs on television then you have had a glimpse (albeit a glossed over Hollywood version) of what crime scene investigation work and the forensic sciences are all about. These shows however have shined a focus on a science that was largely hidden from view until television brought it to the forefront.
Forensic nursing careers are a new field of medical practice whereby there is an intersection of health care and law enforcement. Think of them as a spot where the two meet up and a gap is bridged. For a registered nurse (RN) looking to take her career to a new level and up the ante on excitement this could be it!
The Role of a Forensic Nurse
CSI nurses as they are sometimes referred to perform a variety of important duties. They help care for the victims of a crime as well as collect DNA at a crime scene and help with the investigation at the crime scene. They are also sometimes called upon to testify in court about their evidential findings. One of the most important jobs of a forensic nurse is to do her part to support the patient in their physical and emotional recovery while at the same time ensuring that the individual’s rights are protected.
A forensic nurse is trained to work at crime scenes to treat the wounds of patients but also to help to collect and identify evidence at the scene. A forensic nurse examiner will work in concert with staff at the hospital where the patient is transferred to. She will be expected to both collect and document evidence while at the same time treating the patient in the ways that are most needed.
Most forensic nurse examiners practice in this field as sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE). They help to collect and preserve evidence which plays such a vital role at the crime scene. They are also there to assess and attend to the needs of the victim. Some victims may require emotional support more than physical care where others may require both.
Forensic nursing is a very versatile and lucrative branch of nursing that is gaining more attention all of the time. There are a variety of specialties for those nurses interested in pursuing this line of work. The specialties include:
• Correctional nursing
• Sexual assault nursing
• Nurse coroner/death investigation
• Gerontology specialization
• Community education
• Legal nurse consulting
Forensic Education Programs
To become a forensic nurse you first must become a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN). It helps if you have been working in the field for a number of years and have accumulated a fair level of experience in the nursing profession. All potential candidates for a specialty in forensics must complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a concentration in Forensics or complete a professional certificate program. The majority of nursing schools that offer a forensic nursing degree program also offer two year courses at the graduate level that will lead to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
To find work as a SANE nurse you require additional credentials that are specialized beyond what a registered nurse has. This is because you must be able to prove that you have what it takes to work with rape victims and victims of sexual abuse. In order to qualify for the certification examination for SANE you need to have had at least two years of experience employed as a licensed registered nurse. You also need to have an active nursing license and you must have your MSN degree.
You may wish to earn your SANE-A certificate. This certificate will make it possible for you to work with both adolescents and adults. Or you may wish to earn your SANE-P certificate which means that you can work in a pediatric capacity. For the SANE-P certificate you require at least three years of experience as a RN. Both the SANE-A certificate and the SANE-P certificate must be renewed every three years. Certificates are only required in these two forensic fields of nursing and not others.
Curriculum for Forensic Program for Nurses
In studying to be a forensic nurse you will learn about a variety of different subjects that will all be relevant to your chosen field. Targeted forensic registered nurse (RN) coursework will include studying criminology, death investigation, crime scene photography, evidence gathering, victim interviewing strategies, preparation of criminal cases, psychology, dealing with violence, domestic violence and sexual assault.
The industry standard certification examination is the Certified Forensic Nurse (CFN). There are professional associations around such as American Forensic Nursing and the International Association of Forensic Nurses that provide networking opportunities for forensic nurses, as well as education and support.
Workplaces for a Forensic Nurse
Once you have graduated with your MSN and have written your examination and passed you can look for your first job as a forensic nurse. Since this is an emerging profession the employment opportunities for forensic nurses are many. They find work in acute health care facilities, medical examiner offices, correctional institutions, psychiatric facilities, county coroner and prosecutor offices and insurance companies. After gaining a number of years of experience as a forensic nurse some choose to work as independent consultants.
Job Outlook and Salary
The job outlook for nurses is extremely good in this field. According to the website Salary.com the starting wage for a forensic nurse examiner is approximately $26 an hour. Depending on the nurse’s specialty and the state she lives in the potential is there to earn as much as $100 an hour. This works out to be somewhere between $54K to $208K on an annual basis.
Not all workplaces pay their forensic nurses in the same way. A common plan for payment keeps the nurse working on-call and pays between $2 to $4 an hour while on-call and then pays an increased hourly wage when she is actively working on a case. Other employers choose to pay in a different manner. They pay their forensic nurses on a case by case basis. The average case takes anywhere from three to five hours to complete.
The salary of a forensic nurse is dependent upon her level of education, years of experience, the location of her job and the job responsibilities she has. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has predicted steady growth in this occupation over the next 10 years. Like other types of nursing specialties a forensic nurse can expect her salary to increase with both experience and tenure.
