Be a Forensic Nurse and Help Solve Crimes

Forensic science is all over the TV and the Internet, but do you really know what role forensic nurses play in this crime solving game? Who are they? What do they do and why do they matter?

Forensic Nursing

The public is simply fascinated with forensic science. Shows like CSI Miami are extremely popular in large part because of the public's growing interest in forensics. Forensics uses the newest advances in technology to solve crimes and find criminals. Forensics includes fingerprinting and DNA testing. Usually television shows and movies give all of the crime solving credit to the detectives and forensic lab experts. Others deserve a pat on the back, including forensic nurses.

Forensic nursing is a nice mix of investigation, crime, science and medicine. Like their forensic counterparts, forensic nurses use their skills to investigate crime scenes, collect evidence and help solve criminal investigations.

Forensic nurses spend a majority of their time working with those who have survived crimes. For example, they may look after a woman who was severely beaten by her husband. They may also provide care to those who live in the prison system. Some specialties within the forensic nursing filed include correctional nursing specialists, forensic gerontology specialists, sexual assault nurse examiners and forensic nurse investigators to name a few.

Getting Into the Field

Forensic nursing is a nursing specialty. After nurses go through a forensic nursing program, they're given a nursing certificate to show that they are a legitimate forensic nurse. These programs exist all over the country. Before you sign up for a forensic nursing program, you need to make sure that the school you're looking at has the specialty program you want to pursue. It's a good idea to ask other forensic nurses who are working in the field where they got their specialty certificate.

The virtual world has made forensic nursing certificates available on-line. Nursing schools often have virtual classes for continuing education courses. The goal of these on-line classes is to allow busy nurses flexibility to take tests and read material at their convenience. This lets the working nurse advance his or her career without taking a leave of absence.

Each forensic nursing course is different. They all include similar components. They talk about how to diagnose problems, heal patients and complete accurate evaluations. A sexual assault certification would teach the nurse how to collect evidence in a sexual assault case. The forensic nurse would also be taught how to preserve the evidence for further investigation. The nurse would be required to deal with the assault victim treating them for injuries, preparing their documents for court and providing them with follow up treatment.

Forensic nursing is an exciting career, but it is difficult for some nurses. If the thought of seeing the details of a crime repulses you, you might want to reconsider your desire to go into forensic nursing.