[devotchka]

Here is my situation:

I am an RN with 3+ years clinical experience (Surgery/Trauma ICU, Ambulatory PACU, and I am about to accept a job in an ER).

I have my BSN, and for the last year I have been working on getting a 2nd degree in Criminal Justice with concentration in Forensic Crime Scene Investigation, which I will finish in December. This fall I will also be taking a 4-day intensive course in Medico-legal death investigation. One of my school advisors is also going to arrange an internship for me in the ER of our large, urban, teaching hospital with one of their FNE's - in addition to sexual assualts, they also get a large amount of traumas to work with (GSW, stabbings, domestic assault&battery, etc). I plan on applying to grad school in the Spring for a MSN with Forensic Nursing Focus (I have about 4 schools on my list to apply to).

So my question - is there anything else I should be doing to prepare or get experience? I've been told to work on getting SANE cert or something along those lines, but honestly I am not interested in becoming a SANE. Death Investigation or Nurse Coroner is where I want to be. I have attempted to get an internship/shadow/anything at our city's ME's office, but due to the "CSI effect" this is near impossible as everyone else in the world wants to as well. So any ideas? I would especially like to hear from any nurses who currently are NDI's or Nurse Coroners and how they go to that point.

I would appreciate any advise!!

~Michelle

[sirI]

Originally Posted by devotchka

Here is my situation:

I am an RN with 3+ years clinical experience (Surgery/Trauma ICU, Ambulatory PACU, and I am about to accept a job in an ER).

I have my BSN, and for the last year I have been working on getting a 2nd degree in Criminal Justice with concentration in Forensic Crime Scene Investigation, which I will finish in December. This fall I will also be taking a 4-day intensive course in Medico-legal death investigation. One of my school advisors is also going to arrange an internship for me in the ER of our large, urban, teaching hospital with one of their FNE's - in addition to sexual assualts, they also get a large amount of traumas to work with (GSW, stabbings, domestic assault&battery, etc). I plan on applying to grad school in the Spring for a MSN with Forensic Nursing Focus (I have about 4 schools on my list to apply to).

So my question - is there anything else I should be doing to prepare or get experience? I've been told to work on getting SANE cert or something along those lines, but honestly I am not interested in becoming a SANE. Death Investigation or Nurse Coroner is where I want to be. I have attempted to get an internship/shadow/anything at our city's ME's office, but due to the "CSI effect" this is near impossible as everyone else in the world wants to as well. So any ideas? I would especially like to hear from any nurses who currently are NDI's or Nurse Coroners and how they go to that point.

I would appreciate any advise!!

~Michelle

Hello, Michelle and welcome to allnurses.com

It sounds as if you've an exciting career ahead of you in Forensic Nursing. Reading your pathway to this, I just cannot add much more. The ED position is excellent and I always suggest this nursing specialty area for those seeking careers in forensics.

Where are you receiving the CSI education, if you do not mind revealing this? And, kudos to you for continuing with the Masters in Forensic Nursing!!!

I do not see adding SANE certification as something you need. Looks as if you are going to be very qualified with the educative process you've chosen. Later, if you see a need, you could add SANE. (that is something that doesn't interest me as well).

If you've read any of my posts, you know that I am considering running for coroner in the next county election. I've considered DI, but not certain if I will do this for I'm busy with my LNC business. Still, it is very intriguing....

I wish I could offer alternatives to externship with ME. I did this (3 months) and was an excellent learning experience. Have you contacted the prosecutor's office to see if you could get a recommendation for the ME?? How about your local law enforcement???

Good luck with your career in Forensic Nursing and please keep us posted.

Hope you enjoy the site here at allnurses!!!!!!

[devotchka]

Originally Posted by siri

Where are you receiving the CSI education, if you do not mind revealing this?

I'm at Virginia Commonwealth University. They have a great program in that and in Forensic Science. Unfortunately, they don't have a grad program for Forensic Nursing in their nursing school - no one in the state does - so I'll be applying out of state.

Originally Posted by siri

I wish I could offer alternatives to externship with ME. I did this (3 months) and was an excellent learning experience. Have you contacted the prosecutor's office to see if you could get a recommendation for the ME?? How about your local law enforcement???

I know it would be an excellent experience, but I know of other students who have tried and have been told they are just too inundated with everyone wanting a chance to experience it. I may see about trying at one not so local to me in another jurisdiction. Of course, the Richmond, VA one would be ideal (even though our crime rating has gone down from being #5 to #12.. woo!) as I would see a great deal of both natural and unnatural causes. I'll try asking my advisor if she knows of anyone who could pull some strings for me.

Thanks for the info though! There aren't (that I'm aware of) Nurse Death Investigators in Virginia, and of course no nurse coroners as it is an ME state so it has been a little difficult to find advice, so I do really appreciate the help!

[sirI]

Do ya'll have county coroners??? (not nurse per se)

Sorry that I could not offer any other advice. Maybe other NDI will chime in if out there....

Again, good luck!!

[DUPioneerGal]

Hi all -

I know first hand it is EXTREMELY difficult trying to get an internship with local Medical Examiners or even county coroners. I was fortunate enough, through some family friends, to actually intern with a local ME while I was in high school - talk about an incredible opportunity, and he was an extremely good teacher and was very, very patient with me. 4 years later, he continues to be my mentor and has written a letter of recommendation for my application for grad school in Forensic Science (CU Colorado Springs). I've tried making connections with medical examiners in the Springs but they're usually so swamped with medical school rotations that the idea of bringing on an "intern" not pursuing an MD is just a pain in the butt for them.

CU's program is pretty new, and not yet accredited by AAFS, but they do offer a certificate (12 credits) in Forensic nursing. It seems like it's a very well rounded and growing program, so I'm very excited.

One suggestion is to check with local sheriffs offices and police departments - they have a lot of volunteer opportunities, even in crime labs, and they will train. Even if you're just doing finger prints or victim counseling, you're at least getting your foot in the door...you never know where your connections might take you!!! Good luck!

Kim

[4n608]

You're very smart to do the CJ with the CSI focus. Although this is not my own particular area of interest (mine is clinical forensic nursing in the ED), I have a degree in CJ in Investigative Services. In my MSN program (I have finished 2 of 3 years of the Forensic Nurse Clinical Specialist Track), about 2/3 of my class want to be Death Investigators. These are experienced ED nurses. There are others who just graduated, as well as those in the class behind me who also want to be DIs. It is an incredibly competitive field just now. As my mentor noted (a nurse who is a retired homicide detective), the job market is not prepared to accomodate those bitten by the CSI effect.

Even so, I have found that the CJ degree has been very much to my advantage. And what my peers have learned is that you need to be willing to relocate to whereever the jobs might be. You also earn much more being a nurse than a death investigator. My class was told this directly at the Chief Medical Examiner's office last week, in orientation for clinicals with the ME's office this fall.

One last thing. I also work in a domestic violence shelter as a case manager and victim advocate. I work as an ED nurse in one county and with dv victims in another. I do so for a reason, and have consulted with those of my professors who also happen to be lawyers on this. While working with victims has certainly given me a greater depth of understanding of the magnitude of crime, and how victims react in a violent situation, make no mistake - there is a conflict of interest. If you want the objective work of death investigation, it might be better not to do the subjective work of being a victim advocate.

Good luck! 4n608

[tonyal]

I am pre~nursing student waiting to enter my program i have about a year on the waiting list. i am wonder if it would be a good idea to also work on a cj degree while waiting since i would like to go all the way to a master's in forensic nursing

[tammyc-lpn]

I am training/riding with the head of the CSSU (Crime Scene Search Unit) in LR Arkansas he trains officers in the area of forensics and I am earning my certification in Forensics training with him. He is going to set up a day/night to go with the ME there as soon as my schedule allows. It is the most exciting thing I have ever done. The first crime scene I went to was a death and it was a big adrenaline rush. So it is good to check with your local Police Departments.