Role And The Importance Of A Forensic Nurse In The Modern World

The importance of nurses in the healthcare industry is not something that we could underestimate. Their growing influence in improving the overall system, health outcomes, and providing healthcare access for patients is commendable. However, in the modern world, their contributions expand to many other systems of economy.

Criminal justice and the healthcare system are closely related in many ways, precisely because of forensic nursing staff. Forensic nurses deal with the patients experiencing health consequences due to exposure to violence or victimization. They are specialized individuals who provide care and services to the patients. They become expert witnesses for victims of physical assault and investigate matters related to death.

To understand the roles, responsibilities, and standing of these forensic nurses in the modern world, let's look at some essential points:

1.       Education and Training of Forensic Nurses

Forensic nurses need to become registered nurses to start their careers in the legal system. They need to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam and obtain a nursing diploma, a bachelor's degree, or an associate degree. It takes a maximum of four to five years for them to complete this stage of education, and then their training begins. But those who wish to advance their careers to management roles or advanced practices have to pursue a master's degree or a Ph.D. In every state, the nurses need to become licensed before taking up relevant certification and training for the forensic nurse.

2.       Importance of Forensic Nurses

This profession is seemingly growing, and so is the median forensic nurse salary, which currently ranges from $59,000 to $89,000. The demand for registered forensic nurses will grow up to 7% in the current decade. This profession is an excellent choice for individuals who have a thorough aspiration to serve humanity. They get to merge the legal system and healthcare system and are ready to work in crucial circumstances. Often, these forensic nurses become a threat of consequential violence against their patients. They stay steadfast and true to their profession. Therefore, the importance of these forensic nurses in society is much appreciable.

3.       Duties of Forensic Nurses

Forensic nurses are integral to the healthcare and justice system because they have crucial duties to perform. Their foremost responsibility is to provide care and treatment to the victims of intentional or unintentional violence. They help them overcome traumas that they had to experience and endure. They have specialized training in clinical work and knowledge of the legal system to identify, evaluate and document specific injuries. They collect evidence for medical testimonies and help legal authorities complete their job efficiently. They understand how to deal with child abuse, domestic violence, elder mistreatment, or sexual assault cases.

Additionally, they educate patients while treating them to make them aware of their situation. They provide crisis intervention to them and properly use forensic photography to help investigate probable suspects. They also take responsibility for testifying in court as a fact witness or medical expert.

4.       Forensic Nurses as SANE

Forensic nurses often specialize as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). They analyze patients' history and perform assessments to evaluate their physical and emotional stability. They document all findings and create a detailed report so that a doctor and legal authorities can analyze them. They collect samples of a patient's blood, urine, or saliva to drive conclusive medical statements since they also have to treat rape victims and carry out DNA testing to evaluate pieces of evidence. Sometimes, they may take photographs of forensic indications to the courtroom and testify as a medical expert. The SANE understands that all their medical actions findings are admissible in the court. Therefore, they play a crucial role in helping out a criminal investigation. The SANE must understand the issues of victimization and have critical skills of investigation and counseling. They need to fully understand the requirements of the victim and provide them with holistic treatment. They should also possess communication skills to thoroughly empathize with the patients and understand their physical and emotional trauma. They need to become the safety outlet for sexually assaulted individuals and abused children.

5.       Forensic Correctional Nurses

Forensic nurses do not only provide treatment to victims of violence but also their perpetrators. As correctional nurses, they work in juvenile detention centers and prisons and provide healthcare to inmates. They provide routine illness check-ups to the patients. They evaluate the patients' health condition to determine whether they need to be admitted to hospitals. They test them for substance abuse and perform screenings to detect infectious diseases to get timely treatment. They also manage chronic health conditions like HBP, asthma, or cardiovascular illnesses and perform regular medical tests. These nurses work at correctional centers and help examine prison assaults and help make the justice system sturdier.

6.       Nurse Coroner or Death Investigator

Nurse coroners contribute to crime investigations by determining the time and cause of death of the person in question. They don't necessarily perform autopsies by themselves but are entirely aware of the procedure and can examine the situation professionally. These nurses carry out crucial tasks of examining the body's condition and taking photographs of the deceased and the crime scene. They have a license to enter a crime scene and also deal with attorneys directly. However, as legal nurse consultants, they link the client, their lawyers, and the physician. They also communicate with law enforcement officials and perform the test required on the dead body. They collect and document all evidence related to death and relate them to the medical indications. They obtain the victim's medical history records and analyze them to understand the situation better. Sometimes they also research the deceased's social history, which they analyze by meeting with their family, friends, or doctor.

Conclusion

Conclusively, forensic nurses are an integral part of the healthcare and justice system. They possess crucial skills that make them the link between two organizations. Their importance in the modern world is credible as they are fearless professionals who bring peace and harmony to society.