What is forensic Nursing?
Forensic nursing is a specialty area of nursing that combines nursing science with the legal aspects of health care issues and follows framework based on nursing science, forensic science and criminal justice (Martin, 2009). Using this framework, forensic nursing investigates and treats both victims and criminals who were involved in violence, criminal activity and accidents (Martin, 2009).
Forensic nurses are registered nurses who obtain additional education in forensic nursing (Martin, 2009). Some specific roles for forensic nurses may include forensic psychiatric, correctional and gerontology nurses. They may also include forensic nurse educators, sexual assault nurse examiners, legal nurse consultants, clinical forensic nurses, nurse attorneys and death investigators (Martin, 2009). These nurses may be working in hospitals, home care, college campuses, and correctional facilities or with government agencies (Martin, 2009). These nurses can provide consultation services, assess for trauma and injury, collect and preserve evidence, documentation and implications of laws, and provide court testimony when related to nursing (Martin, 2009).
In Canada, Forensic nurses have formed the Forensic Nurses’ Society of Canada (FNSC) in order to address forensic nursing issues related directly to Canadians (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013). The aim for FNSC is to prevent violence or reduce its consequences, and to promote evidence-based forensic nursing practice (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013). The FNSC has helped bring in supporting legislation to allow nurses to act as death investigators, has helped with issues related to elder abuse, developed systems to support special interest groups (Carter-Snell, 2011), and is beginning to promoted forensic nursing standards and its entailment to governments, industries and the public (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013).
Within Canada there are few forensic nursing educational courses and programs. One may find these courses at British Columbia Institute of Technology, Mount Royal University in Alberta, University of Saskatchewan, George Brown College in Ontario, Seneca College in Ontario and St. Francis Xavier in Nova Scotia (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013).
Although forensic nursing is still fairly new, in recent literature reviews it has been correlated with a positive response for the needs of victims and offenders in society and has allowed for nurses to take over the roles of higher education professionals in order to provide more specific care to the individuals in order to better suit their needs (Kent-Wikinson, 2011).
Forensic nurses are registered nurses who obtain additional education in forensic nursing (Martin, 2009). Some specific roles for forensic nurses may include forensic psychiatric, correctional and gerontology nurses. They may also include forensic nurse educators, sexual assault nurse examiners, legal nurse consultants, clinical forensic nurses, nurse attorneys and death investigators (Martin, 2009). These nurses may be working in hospitals, home care, college campuses, and correctional facilities or with government agencies (Martin, 2009). These nurses can provide consultation services, assess for trauma and injury, collect and preserve evidence, documentation and implications of laws, and provide court testimony when related to nursing (Martin, 2009).
In Canada, Forensic nurses have formed the Forensic Nurses’ Society of Canada (FNSC) in order to address forensic nursing issues related directly to Canadians (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013). The aim for FNSC is to prevent violence or reduce its consequences, and to promote evidence-based forensic nursing practice (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013). The FNSC has helped bring in supporting legislation to allow nurses to act as death investigators, has helped with issues related to elder abuse, developed systems to support special interest groups (Carter-Snell, 2011), and is beginning to promoted forensic nursing standards and its entailment to governments, industries and the public (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013).
Within Canada there are few forensic nursing educational courses and programs. One may find these courses at British Columbia Institute of Technology, Mount Royal University in Alberta, University of Saskatchewan, George Brown College in Ontario, Seneca College in Ontario and St. Francis Xavier in Nova Scotia (Forensic Nurses’ Society, 2013).
Although forensic nursing is still fairly new, in recent literature reviews it has been correlated with a positive response for the needs of victims and offenders in society and has allowed for nurses to take over the roles of higher education professionals in order to provide more specific care to the individuals in order to better suit their needs (Kent-Wikinson, 2011).
References
Carter-Snell, C. (2011). Forensic Nurses' Society of Canada update. NENA Outlook, 34(1), 7-8.
Forensic Nurses’ Society of Canada. (2013). Retrieved from http://forensicnurse.ca
Kent-Wilkinson, A. (2010). Forensic psychiatric/mental health nursing: responsive to social need. Issues In Mental Health Nursing,
31(6), 425-431. doi:10.3109/01612840903506444
Martin, N. (2009). Forensic nursing: what, who, where. Kansas Nurse, 84(3), 3-5.
Forensic Nurses’ Society of Canada. (2013). Retrieved from http://forensicnurse.ca
Kent-Wilkinson, A. (2010). Forensic psychiatric/mental health nursing: responsive to social need. Issues In Mental Health Nursing,
31(6), 425-431. doi:10.3109/01612840903506444
Martin, N. (2009). Forensic nursing: what, who, where. Kansas Nurse, 84(3), 3-5.