FORENSIC NURSING

Nursing Approach in the field of Forensics

WHAT IS FORENSIC
NURSING?
Nursing science applied to the law
Investigation/treatment of:
Violence
Abuse
Criminal activity
Traumatic accidents

WHAT IS FORENSIC
NURSING?
Application of the nursing process to public or
legal proceedings
Application of the forensic aspects of health
care to the scientific investigation of trauma
and/or death related to medicolegal issues

ROLES WITHIN FORENSIC
NURSING
Clinical Forensic
Nurse
Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner
(SANE)
Pediatric Forensic
Nurse
Forensic Psychiatric
Nurse

Nurse Death
Investigator/Coroner
Correctional Nurse
Legal Nurse
Consultant
Nurse Attorney

THE FORENSIC NURSE
A nurse (RN) with specialized training in:
Forensic evidence collection
Criminal procedures
Legal testimony expertise
Specialty Roles:
Clinical forensic nurse (CFN)
Sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE)
Legal nurse consultant
Forensic psychiatric nurse
Forensic correctional nurse
Forensic gerontology nurse
Nurse attorney
Death investigator/Forensic nurse investigator
Forensic nurse educator

HISTORY
1992-1
st
national convention of sexual assault
nurses
International Association of Forensic Nurses
(IAFN)
1996-American Association of Nurses


CURRENT STATUS OF
FORENSIC NURSES
New specialty area of interest
Education continuing to evolve
Colleges and universities
Healthcare facilities, correctional facilities,
county prosecutors, coroners offices, medical
examiners offices, insurance companies,
psychiatric facilities
Disaster and emergency management

JOB DESCRIPTION
Evaluation of victims of sexual assault
Collect evidence (sexual assault victims and
crime scenes)
Interview the victim
Investigate causes of morbidity and mortality
Testify in court

JOB QUALIFICATIONS
RN
Entry-level position is sexual assault nurse examiner
(certification)
Specialized training
40 hrs didactics
40 hrs clinical work
Should be trained in handling and collecting evidence
such as hairs, fibers, and swabs of fluid for DNA
testing
Tools to be familiar with:
DSLR Cameras and Point and shoot cameras
Omnichrome
Coloscope

EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
SALARY
Varies depending on the part of the country
and experience
Starts at SALARY GRADES 17-20k
(Philippines)
On-call rate of 500/day


FORENSIC NURSING
Important resource
Challenging and
exciting
Different specialty
areas
Make a difference

Demanding hrs
Challenging
Emotional cases


ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
THE FORENSIC NURSE
DEATH INVESTIGATOR
What is a Forensic Nurse Death
Investigator?
A Registered Nurse who:
applies the nursing process to death
investigation across the life span
collaborates with interdisciplinary agencies
identifies trends
conducts and/or participates in research
promotes health and safety through community
education.
IAFN, FNDI Standards of Practice, 2004, (draft)
What can a nurse add to the death
investigation?
Apply nursing knowledge which includes
anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and family
interaction
Questions are formulated based on a medical
knowledge base
Aid families and survivors in terms of the
grieving process
Vessier-Batchen,
(2003)
CONCEPTS OF THE
FORENSIC NURSING
PROCESS
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT:
- Identification of scene
- Location of the body
- Description of the body
- Description of the trauma

MUST REFLECT:

1. Critical thinking skills
2. Specialized forensic skills
3. Medical knowledge
4. Documentation skills
5. Knowledge of the legal system
6. Knowledge of social service agencies
7. Knowledge of the legal system
8. Experience


CATEGORIES OF
FORENSIC DEATHS

Death due to violent, suspicious or unexplained
cause

Death involving fault or neglect by another

Possible or suspected suicide

Death resulting from accident
Death by drowning

Death by burning, scalding resulting from
fire or explosion

Certain deaths of children

PURPOSE OF
MEDICOLEGAL DEATH
INVESTIGATION

Detection of death
Maintaining statistics
Investigation of medical aspects of certain
types of deaths
Citizens right
Victim justice
PRINCIPLES OF
DEATH
INVESTIGATION

Expeditious investigation
Through examination of crime
Impartial/objective investigation of
crime scene
Respect for justice to the victim
and the members of the public
DEATH SCENE INVESTIGATION

Identification of the deceased

Physical condition of the body

Documentation of injuries

Collection and preservation of evidence

Estimation of time of death

Bridge for family to law
enforcement and support
agencies

Provision of death certificate
indication the cause and
manner of death

ROLE OF THE FORENSIC NURSE
DEATH INVESTIGATOR


Contribute findings to the medical
examiner relating to cause and manner
of death

Requires:

1. Excellent observation skills

2. Perception skills

3. Communication skills

4. Detailed knowledge of NORMAL
anatomy and physiology
PUTTING THE NURSING
PROCESS TOGETHER
REMEMBER:
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH
OBJECTIVE DATA IN A
FORENSIC NURSING PROCESS
ASSESSMENT
Identification of Trauma
ASSESSMENT:
IDENIFICATION OF LOCATION &
TRAUMA
Initial Scene Observations:
1. Location/s of crime scene; primary,
secondary and tertiary
2. Understanding the Locard Theory of
Transfer
3. Location/s of the body/bodies
4. Condition of the body/bodies
5. Identification of injury/injuries
Apply Death Scene Investigation Safety Equipment & Divide
Responsibilities
Victim Identification
SECURE THE CRIME SCENE
Spiral Grid Search
Outward Spiral Grid Search: Start Inside Spiral Out

Investigative Process Begins
Evidence Investigation
PLANNING
PLANNING:
- Investigation
INTERVENTION
INTERVENTION: Documentation pertaining
to;
1. The incident
2. Collection & preservation of evidence
3. Chain-of-custody
4. Reporting to appropriate legal agency

EVALUATION: Post-investigation review


EVALUATION
Debriefing & Review
EVALUATION:
POST-INVESTIGATION
REVIEW
Review initial crime scene data

Identify physical evidence and assess
collection techniques

Discuss chain-of-evidence specialized
testing results
Review all aspects of the death
investigation intervention

Debriefing session with Investigative
personnel

Discuss additions or revisions of
investigative process

THANK YOU