Demand for Forensic Nurse?

Specialties Forensic

Published

im trying to explore my options...im a current adn student...going to persue my bsn then my msn...do i need a masters degree for the forensic nursing? how "in demand" is this field???? this really interests me!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, AFree,

No, a Masters Degree is not required to practice as a Forensic Nurse.

Read through this thread about ADNs and forensic nursing. - others have had similar questions.

As for "in demand"; this field of nursing is still in its infancy. Demand all depends upon area of location. Most Forensic Nurses that I know are SANE certified. A couple are Death Investigators (DI). The Legal Nurse Consultant is also a Forensic Nurse.

I see you are interested in the CRNA career, too.

Just continue to ask questions, research your options. If you have other specific questions, please post here. Good luck with your nursing career decisions.

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thak you so much! my next question is...it seems like this field (sane nurse especially) is different than a normal nurse in the aspect of...for example budget gets caught and you lose your job...atleast i have seen several post on here about that...am i correct? who do you work for as a sane nurse? the hospital? why would the stray away from having that tipe of nurse? or am i confused???

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
thak you so much! my next question is...it seems like this field (sane nurse especially) is different than a normal nurse in the aspect of...for example budget gets caught and you lose your job...atleast i have seen several post on here about that...am i correct? who do you work for as a sane nurse? the hospital? why would the stray away from having that tipe of nurse? or am i confused???

I cannot answer your question. Maybe someone else can.

I am not a SANE nurse.

As for the difference in SANE and regular nurse, yes..........there is one major difference in that the SANE is not a patient advocate, but a support person.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

Maybe I can answer a few of your questions.

I am a SANE nurse. I work as a staff RN at a trauma center and the SANE duties are prn. My hospital is currently the only hospital in our area with a SANE program,..the next closest is about 4hrs away. We work closely with the local prosecutors office, law enforcement and the crime lab. My duties as a SANE nurse are through the hospital and done in the ER. There are five full time RN's that are SANE certified right now. Usually one of us is working a shift,..if not we take turns being on call. At this point in time, through our ER, there really isn't enough cases for us to be a full time SANE nurse. This is a new program for our area and we are still working out the "kinks" but so far so good.

Hope that helps. I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hi RN-Cardiac,

Thanks for sharing your experience as a SANE. I've been wondering if SANEs are paid the per diem rate they would be paid as a regularly staffed RN or if (in your experience) SANEs are paid a set amount (ex: a flat rate of $200 per case).

I'm not asking you to share your personal salary info, just want to know,in general, how a SANEs pay rate is figured.

Also, how many shifts do you find yourself working in about a month? I know this can vary but has there been an average amount of shifts worked per month as a SANE?

Thanks for your help!

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

wsuchic1,

I work full time nights as a staff nurse in the ER. If a case comes in I do it. I get paid my regular salary. If we don't have a SANE nurse working (rare) we take turns being on call,.and will get a small on call pay, and our hourly wage if we get called in, 4 hour min. I do know of hospitals that pay per case, but as of now we aren't doing it that way.

I work 3 or 4 12 hour shifts a week. I might do 2 cases one week and then I might not do one for 2 or 3 weeks. SANE work is not my full time job.

Durring our traing the prosecutors office reported that our county has the 2hd highest reports of sexual abuse in the state, yet we don't do enough exams to staff a full time SANE nurse that is dedicated to only SANE duties.

Hope that answers you questions.

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Specializes in Military 21 years, SANE nursing 11 years.

siri

i have to challenge you on what you said about the sane nurse not being a patient advocate but a support person. being a sane for nine years it's all about being a patient advocate to get them the care needed and not having to sit in a waiting room for ten hours or more. its all about the evidence that we collect but it is also about the compassion to these patients because no one else wants to go into that room. i work with the peds population mostly in a facility that i have had to fight from day one to get great care for these patients. i'm not saying they won't get good care but i put it this way, if it was you or your child wouldn't you want the best for them to get it done right and have that chance to put that person behind bars because you knew what needed to be done. i not attacking you but this is something that i feel very strong about because we are seen in a different light at times.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
siri

i have to challenge you on what you said about the sane nurse not being a patient advocate but a support person. being a sane for nine years it's all about being a patient advocate to get them the care needed and not having to sit in a waiting room for ten hours or more. its all about the evidence that we collect but it is also about the compassion to these patients because no one else wants to go into that room. i work with the peds population mostly in a facility that i have had to fight from day one to get great care for these patients. i'm not saying they won't get good care but i put it this way, if it was you or your child wouldn't you want the best for them to get it done right and have that chance to put that person behind bars because you knew what needed to be done. i not attacking you but this is something that i feel very strong about because we are seen in a different light at times.

i understand what you are saying, pedsicu. and, yes, i want someone who knows what they are doing should there ever be a time in my life it is required. god forbid that ever happens...

if it was you or your child wouldn't you want the best for them to get it done right and have that chance to put that person behind bars because you knew what needed to be done.
this has nothing to do with patient advocacy. this is a part of the job as a support person dealing with the case.

the sane nurse serves as patient support. as patient advocate, there could be conflict of interest in legal proceedings such as in court and therefore, are not recognized as legal advocates. individuals who require an advocate person should be asked if they need one while the sane nurse collects evidence and is supportive.

in an ideal situation and one with careful planning and design, there should be the sane, law enforcement, and patient advocate summoned for the victim. the sane and advocate work in tandem.

many states outline how the team is comprised and many states will outline how the patient must be informed that he/she can have an advocate present while the sane nurse gathers evidence.

i not attacking you
no, i know you are not.:)
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this is such an interesting field to me. I have a previous degree in sociology/ with a concentration in criminology and social control, and i am one semster away from have my ADN. I feel like my two worlds have collided. I am really interested in SANE nursing. So glad this website is here for me to learn from!!!!

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