How many of you are in the Crime Scene Nurse Investigation field??

Mar 20, 2003 02:23 PM

by RNdetective

Hello,...Im brand new to these boards as of today. I wanted to get a feel of what types of occupations are represented here in this forensic nurse bulletin board. I am looking to enter this field and change my nursing career into this direction!! I am currently in Home Health and feeling board & unchallenged or unfufilled. At first I was thinking of getting out of nursing altogether and go into the law enforcement/legal arena. But then I stumbled into this specialty of nursing....and Im am SO EXCITED!!!

My request to you all is to: introduce your particular specific occupation in this specialty and then tell me what your feelings are about your job/career AND tell me what do you like about it and what are some occasional challenges you encounter in your job.

I would be so grateful to any and all who respond to this posting to help educate me about what you do...

Thanks so much in advance.

Mary Dover · Mar 20, 2003, 05:00 PM

Good luck! I've done quite a bit of research in this area myself over the past few months. Even subscribed to "Forensic Nurse", a bimonthly publication (came with the COOLEST free t-shirt). I aspire to be a forensic nurse death investigator. It seems that it takes a lot of networking and continuing ed on your own. Unfortunately, the market in my area for FNDI's is pretty much non existant, that's why I've delayed the pursuit, but not the interest.
Of all the input I did get from others, the strongest suggestions seemed to be to get some ER experience, as well as to start with pursuing the SANE certification.
If you get any other good info, I'd appreciate you keep me posted too. Take care!

L&D.RN · Mar 21, 2003, 11:10 AM

I'm a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, (SANE), and when someone has been sexually assaulted, I gather forensic evidence to be used for prosecution. I use swabs for DNA evidence, colposcope and digital pictures, and an extensive written report. That's about it in a nutshell!

marilynmom · Mar 23, 2003, 09:23 PM

I am also interested in this field of Nursing. Here where I live at the University of Central Oklahoma they offer a masters degree in Forensic Nursing.
I wish I knew more what the job field was like but I dont. Most of the information I have gleaned has been online. I plan an getting my SANE as well

Mary Dover where can I go to get a subscription to that magazine? I would especially like the t-shirt...lol

I wish I could meet more people who are interested in this field.

Marilyn

Wolfpax · Apr 18, 2003, 02:40 AM

Morrison Cafe...cool

I too would like to see that post on that bimonthly

Don't really know where to go to get Forensic training either
been looking...saw the online thingy... SANE is all they have here around me and I too am more interested in working for the ME...
I once was enthralled with Quincy and it never let up... werked as a medic, ER RN, and now Psych RN... tried to contact the Red Cross because they have CIS training and disaster psychology training but have hit some dead ends... well I've got time

mri4plsn · Apr 29, 2003, 05:47 AM

l&D RN, i have been looking for some answers on the pay for SANE nurses. if you could give me a ball park figure i sure would appreciate it. but if you think it is too personal i understand thanks mri4plsn

kc ccurn · Dec 11, 2003, 10:23 AM

I know that the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (Beth-El) has a forensic nursing program, I believe it is a relatively short (1 year or so) certificate program and I think also a degree program that is longer. They would be a good resource for you. I think that UCSF in San Franscico has a forensic nursing program or would be able to help you find one.

TigRN · Dec 22, 2003, 04:46 PM

Forensic Nursing

Seems like a lot of us are interested in this field but can't find any information more than SANE. I have searched the net until I was blue trying to get job information - salary information to the point of coming up with nil - nadda - nothing! I even contemplated just going to work at the county as an ME assistant but they make hardly anything.

Like you Wolfpax I was a Quincey fanatic - I don't think there was an episode I missed and when I see re-runs on I watch them to.

Now I absorbed in CSI..... I absolutely love the puzzle solving which is definitely more entertaining than hospital or home health nursing. I can definitely relate to feeling unfulfilled, bored and unchallenged!

BarbPick · Dec 22, 2003, 05:52 PM

I profile and lecture. I seem to have a knack with Cold Cases.
I re walk crime scenes and always seem to find something.
After spending so many years in Oncology death and I are good friends. Who knows, maybe the victim trusts me and sends me in the right direction. I have never come away from a crime scene empty handed.
I took the SANE course. I have done a few Post Mortem exams.
My biggest find was a few years ago, a woman came into the ER, old and almost catatonic. She was about 77, lived alone, a widow. Something told me to do a straight cath right away, got the ok from the ER doc and sperm was found in her urine. Bingo, a SANE was born.

TigRN · Dec 23, 2003, 01:28 PM

Barbpick - how did you get started? Most of us from I have read on this thread want to get started [education, etc] but can't seem to get answers past SANE.... maybe florida is different.?

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How many of you are in the Crime Scene Nurse Investigation field??

How many of you are in the Crime Scene Nurse Investigation field??

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