What is the role of a forensic nurse?
Forensic nurses are specially trained medical professionals who, according to the American Forensic Nurses (AMRN), are a bridge between the criminal justice system and the health care system. Forensic nurses fulfill a role that was traditionally a part of the duties of other registered nurses. Forensic nurses can fulfill it better because of their specialized training in both criminal justice procedures and victim relations. This leads not only to a more efficient relationship between the health care and criminal justice systems, but also to a better experience for everyone involved.
Roles and responsibilities of a forensic nurse
Forensic nurses are registered nurses who receive as part of their training instruction in evidence collection, criminal justice, victimology and criminology. The Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services and the AMRN provide a brief overview on the common duties and roles of a forensic nurse.
Forensic nurses are responsible for tending to patients whose injuries, whether physical or psychological, might have been the result of a crime. In addition to providing medical care, they are able to collect evidence that can be used in court and could potentially testify in court themselves. They provide information for psychological assistance if necessary and are receptive to victims’ needs. Forensic nurses also utilize specialized knowledge and procedures when communicating with potential organ donors’ families in large trauma units.
Categories of forensic nurse
There are a few specialty concentrations among forensic nurses. According to the AMRN, the largest subset is that of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). SANEs are responsible for helping victims of rape or sexual assault. In addition to normal evidence collection, these nurses might need to refer victims to additional counseling services and provide them with basic reproductive health information. Other subsets of forensic nursing include forensic psychiatric nursing, death investigation and medical-legal consulting.
The need for forensic nurses
A report by the U.S. Department of Justice outlines the reason why forensic nurses — SANEs in particular — are necessary. The report describes conditions in hospitals before forensic nurses were regularly staffed, when victims of sexual assault were often made to wait long periods of time without being able to eat, drink or urinate for fear of corrupting evidence. When victims were able to see professionals, they were usually not individuals who were well trained in relating to victims. They might have had only minimal training in collecting evidence to be used in court. To complicate matters further, some professionals were disinclined to perform such exams in the first place due to the fact that they might have their credentials questioned in court.
Forensic nurses fulfill an important role. They are specially trained to collect evidence and testify in court, so they do not have the anxieties of other registered nurses or doctors who feel uncomfortable with evidence collection. Perhaps even more important, their training includes relating to victims. While hospital staff members can be harried, forensic nurses are able to listen and offer understanding to the victims who see them for help. In terms of service, that could be the most healing that anyone could provide.
