Forensic Nurse Consultants

About Us

What is a Forensic Nurse?

"Forensic nursing combines the forensic aspects of health care with scientific investigation and treatment of victims and perpetrators of abuse, violence, criminal activity, and accidents. The forensic nurse provides direct services to individual clients; consultation services to nursing, medical, and law related agencies; and expert court testimony regarding trauma, sexual assault, and/or questioned death investigative processes. The forensic nurse also testifies on the adequacy of services and gives specialized diagnoses of special conditions as they related to nursing" (IAFN, 2000).

What does a forensic nurse do?

Many forensic nurses work with victims of sexual assault and other types of interpersonal abuse, including domestic violence, child and elder abuse/neglect and physiological/psychological abuse. Forensic nurses can examine victims of near fatal or fatal traumas, such as shootings or stabbings. Some work as sexual assault nurse examiners, legal nurse consultants, nurse coroners, death investigators, nurse attorneys, correctional nurses and trauma clinical nurse specialists.

In cases of stabbings or shootings, forensic nurses collect such things as bullets and any debris that is on the body, such as leaves that may have clung to the body from the crime scene. They are also in charge of removing the bloody clothes the victim was wearing and putting them in a special wrapping. These nurses also photograph and measure wounds and are essential in the evidence collection and chain of custody process.

What kind of background, skills and experience are necessary for a career in forensic nursing?

To become a potential SANE-A, a nurse must be at least an RN and must complete specialized training to meet the standards IAFN outlines for forensic nurses. The national standards include completion of didactics and 40+ hours of clinical work. Nurses are trained in handling and collecting evidence, such as hairs, fibers and swabs of fluids collected for DNA testing. Additional forensic training is required to work with children.

Course Content:
	Anatomy (female and male genitalia) Adult/Adolescent Interviewing Forensic Photography Rape Crisis Advocate Roles Trauma Identification Mock Courtroom Trial STD’s & Treatment Substance Related Cases Special Populations Investigating Child Abuse Cases History & Myths


	Evidence and PERK Collection Police Officer & Detective Roles Victim Witness Role Profiling Rapists Forensic Scientist & DNA Emergency Contraceptives Domestic Violence & Elder Abuse Documentation Dynamics of Child abuse Alternative Forensic Techniques Starting Your Own Program

This CE activity was approved for 40 contact hours by the Virginia Nurses Association Continuing Education Committee, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.