International Association of Forensic Nurses, Research Paper Example

Forensic nursing is an area of specialization in investigative science that deals with collection of evidence, taking care of victims of crime and offering health care services in the prison systems. The science is therefore a relatively new facet in the field of medical practice that combines heath care with law enforcement elements (Lynch, 2004). A forensic nurse on the other hand is a nurse who has pursued a special training in criminal procedures, collection of forensic evidence and an expert in providing legal testimonies. A forensic nurse therefore provides a link between the profession of criminal justice system and that of medicine.

The term forensic nursing was first used in the early 1990s. It started in 1992 in conference held in St,Paul Minnesota where a group of about 70 nurses came together for national convention of nurses dealing with sexual assault, the convention was the  first ever to happen and it is here where the attendees of the convention realized that they shared similar problems at their centers and as a result the group of nurses started  the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN). Forensic nursing was first established as a specialty in the United States of America and then spread to other areas like South Africa Singapore, Japan Sweden and Malaysia. Virginia Lynch visited India in 2002 and introduced forensic nursing concept and its use to the judiciary, investigating officers, nurses, doctors, judges police officials and advocates in a seminar held at the government medical college. Similar lectures then followed in several parts of Punjab.  Dr. Ravinder Singh allowed nursing students from a local college to be taught the specialty at government medical college in Patiala. During the learning emphasis was put on practical laboratory sessions dealing with forensic science. In addition, several forensic medicine conferences were held to popularize the specialty and it’s these efforts that led to the acceptance of forensic nursing in India.

Forensic nursing was also incorporated by the Journal of Punjab Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Academy and this led to the publishing of two articles on the specialty which later became online articles. Publication of the article led to appreciation of forensic nursing.  (TheForensicNurse.com)

Forensic nurses duties includes treating victims of assault or victims of violent accident, victims of abuse, negligence and victims of violent crimes . In accident or crime scenes, forensic nurses work together with detectives in expediting investigations. They take blood and tissue samples and collects evidence which help the police to arrest and convict criminals. Forensic nurses may also identify injuries as well as their cause and also document and preserve the chain of custody then make reference for the victims to get necessary follow up care. The most crucial role of a nurse in this field is helping to patients recover physically and emotionally and at the same time protect their rights with majority of the nurse examiners practicing as examiners of sexual assault (SANE) collecting evidences that are delicate and helping victims to heal emotionally. Many forensic nurses work in emergency rooms of hospitals as examiners. They  have the duty of undressing the victim and storing their clothes in bags that are special, the nurses also collect bullets and any other debris from patients body in cases of stabbing or shooting to help in investigation. Forensic nurses become counselors and teachers in communities and schools in addition to their health care duties.

In their work, forensic nurses handle cases of abuse, assault, negligence, violent crimes, violent accidents and death cases. They work with the law agencies like the police in courts as witnesses, detectives and the victims. A forensic nurse also works together with hospital staff in treating patients, and in collection and documentation of evidence.

For anybody to join forensic nursing, they must first train as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). One should also be a registered nurse before undergoing the training required to meet IAFN standards. In addition the nurses should be trained in collecting and handling evidences like fluid swabs, fibers and hairs used for DNA testing.

Forensic nurses should be able to testify in court as fact witnesses whereby the nurse states the information objectively and responds to questions without defending or speaking against either the accused or the victim. The duty calls upon them to state the information they obtained without making any conjecture about what they think might have happened. The nurse may also testify as an expert witness in which case the nurse gives some light on the case by giving his or her opinion while on the witness stand.  As the duty calls for it, the nurse only has to state the information he or she obtained, not make conjecture about what he or she thinks happened. A forensic nurse should be able to use different documentation tools in documenting information gathered during treatment process as well as examination. Such tools include Omni chrome, a coloscope and a digital camera. To qualify to be a forensic nurse the person must be capable of comforting victims as they collect and handle evidence to avoid further trauma and also remain calm even when under pressure. The nurse should also be able to get the truth through reading marks on the patients’ bodies or patients’ medical histories and also reading into their actions because most patients find it difficult to give information after experiencing abusive crimes.

Training and certification

The initial requirement for a person to become certified as forensic nurse is possession of a nursing license that is not restricted in the state in which the nurse focuses to practice in and also the license must be active and valid. The candidate must have completed an education course in formal forensic science and also have a minimum of accredited course work of three hours or 40 hours of contact. The candidate must also provide two professional referees and have their competency assessed and recorded by supervisors practicing in the forensic field. To qualify to be a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) the nurse must have an active nurse certificate, two years of licensed nurse experience and a Masters of Science degree in nursing (MSN). The person should also have other special credentials to help prove that they have been trained to work with sexual abuse and rape victims .There are two SANE certificates .SANE-C P certificate which enables the nurse to practice as a pediatric SANE and which requires three years of experience as a registered nurse and The SANE _A certificate which enables the nurse to attend to adolescents and adults.

A forensic nurse can specialize in different areas and roles which  include  correctional nursing ,legal nurse consulting, specialization in gerontology, sexual assault nursing, community education, medical  witness expert, medical legal nurse consultant, death investigator and, emergency room nursing

Forensic Nursing Courses

There are certification and degree programs in the field of forensic nursing. These are offered in many schools especially certification programs. some programs are offered online and include the Kaplan online programs. The Kaplan school of continuing Education offers post registered nurse certificate and other certificates in the forensic nursing specialty like legal nurse consulting, and case management certificates. Gozanga university school of professional studies which offer masters degree in nurse educator. The certificate program forms foundation for candidates willing to begin or advance their career in forensic nursing.

There are professional groups in the specialty of forensic nursing .These include the International association of Forensic Nurses founded in 1992, American forensic Nurses and The American Academy of forensic Science the oldest and most respected worldwide organization of forensic specialists.

Forensic Nurse Career Outlook

As a new field, forensic nursing is a promising nursing career providing a very important service; however, the job opportunities are limited and the current demand is low. Not all hospitals have forensic nurse examiners due to the cost of maintaining an additional department. Forensic nurses that join a hospital are usually on-call or work part-time since full-time positions are limited. In addition to their hospital duties some examiners use their advanced nursing degree in schools and communities as educators and counselors.

The demand for specialists in this nursing career is rising as they become more valuable in the legal system as well as providing primary care to injured victims of crime. This is a great time to step into this evolving profession and become a part of the community. Forensic Nurse Programs are now being offered in nursing schools.

Several writers through various articles as well as books have addressed the facts of the practice and issues in forensic nursing. They seek to bring to light not only the challenges in forensic nursing but also the major requirements of such a specialty. In his book Forensic Nursing Kelly Pyrek examines the essential requirements of forensic nursing and also seeks to highlight the important qualifications that can serve in good stead for forensic nurses. He further notes that the practice requires standards to be established as they determine the application of the procedures in the practice of the science as well as the evidence gathering and documentation procedures. The aim of forensic nursing is to help the legal system unravel the criminal acts surrounding the medical situation. The educating of forensic nurses on the legal issues surrounding their practice is the other issue that the writer point out (Pyrek 2006).

The other article that pays attention to forensic nursing is one by Stokowski which seeks to explain what forensic nursing is all about. She states that It is ideally the fastest growing specialty of nursing world over. This is clearly portrayed by the fact that the practice is generating interest from both the practicing as well as the nurses in waiting.  He further points out that the field has seen the rise of many sub-branches for specialization both for the practitioners as well as those venturing into the practice of nursing. Stokowski further notes that the nurses serve the living and the dead, suspects and survivors as well as those that are left behind.  These nurses therefore combine knowledge in, forensic science nursing science, as well as criminal justice. These nurses work in different locales spanning from mental health, emergency departments, as well as coroners offices and correctional facilities, thus put the nurses can serve in evidence collection for legal and medical purposes. They can also provide crisis intervention for any victims of violence. Finally the writer states that the nurses can give evidence in court and present it in a factual way which is very vital in the determination of cases (Stokowski 2008).

Conclusion

Forensic nursing may be called a new discipline since it is viewed as having started in the years of the 90s. However, prior to the formalization of this practice, forensic nursing could be traced back to the years of 1800 when the nurses used to examine women for their virginity (purity) and give evidence before the queens judges to decide such cases. Similarly over the years, the forensic nurses also gave evidence pertaining rape cases as well as other such cases surrounding the victims physical health.

Over the years, the practice has gained popularity leading eventually to the formation of professional bodies as well as the entrenchment of the practice as a line of specialization in the wider nursing practice. The recognition of forensic nursing as an important practice in the wider practice of nursing has led to the increased interest from the practitioners of the related disciplines such as forensic medicine, investigative crime busters as well the wider legal field. Forensic nurses have created a niche for themselves and gained popularity over time. This has eventually resulted in the practice being incorporated in the curriculum of the nursing course.

The recommendation I put forward is that forensic science should be made a fully fledged discipline with its own qualifications aside from the normal nursing qualifications. The second recommendation is that the association of forensic nurses should be empowered as a regulatory body with powers to register qualified practitioners and deregister those that are accused of malpractice. In this way the practice will be strengthened and it will enable the nursing ethics to be strongly entrenched by the practitioners.

References

Duval J. B. Duval & Lynch V. A. (2005). Forensic Nursing. Michigan: Elsevier Mosby.

Pyrek K  (2006). Forensic Nursing. Arizona: CRC Press

The Forensic Nurse (2009) International Association of Forensic Nurses. Retrieved on 29 August 2009.Available: www.TheForensicNurse.com.

The forensic Nurse: where Science and Nursing come together . Retrieved 29 August 2009. From.www.TheForensicNurse.com

Stokowski. L, (2008). Inside Forensic Nursing. Retrieved 29 August 2009. From http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571555.