Forensic Nursing - Is it for You?

[fgold]

Hi everyone,

I am a new RN but was an LPN for 2+years. I have worked in psych for that time and now I am looking around to see what I want to do "when I grow up" LOL.

First things first I am working per diem both at the job I did as an lpn and I am doing some home care just to pay off some bills. After that I really don't know what path to take.

I am intrigued by forensic nursing and I really think I would like working with a coroner, maybe a death invesigator something along those lines.

What I am wondering is, is there anyone here who has done forensic nursing or know how I would get started?

I have glanced around the internet and see a lot of info but I really don't know yet what to pay attention to and what is just BS.

Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

frank

[TooBeacon]

Hi,

I was also considering the online Kaplan course. Not to sound stupid but if I take an online degree would I be given the same opportunities compared to someone who went to a classroom setting? I ask this because I am not sure how marketable I wou be without any clinical training relating to this. This is a field I would like to get into but I have so many questions still.

Confused,

Too

[TJmich]

Hi Frank

I am also a nurse, going for my BSN and should be done in April 2007. I too am interested in Forensics and wondering how I break into this field. There doesn't seem to be any programs in my area so I have started looking at online programs. I worry without the field training that I will not be prepared. Let me know if you find out anything about the best path to take.

TJ

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

List: Forensic science/forensic nursing programs

[ERNURSELAX]

I'm a full time ER nurse, and we have 6 SANEs in our ER who are usually either working or we rotate "on call" time. I think you absolutely must have a good degree of direct patient care experience, and also ER experience because Sexual and Physical assault victims are Trauma patients. You must be competent to assess for all kinds of traumatic injuries so you know when you must consult with your ER doc for further trauma workup. Some patients/victims are so battered that they need to be physically stabilized before a SANE can even do the pelvic exam for DNA collection. On-line courses should only be a adjunct to actual clinical experience.

[majadu]

Frank,

I am a certified forensic nurse. I obtained my certification through Kaplan College. The classes are on line, it took about 1 year and I have been able to utilize the information in my ER practice. I also know that there are great Medical Examiners in your area. I am originally from Michigan. I know that some of the counties use DME's that are Nurses and Paramedic who have been certified and attended conferences. You might contact John Maino in Jackson County for further information. I believe Jackson County uses forensic pathologists from the Grand Rapids area. It is worth looking into, I moved out of state a few years ago, so things may have changed. Good Luck.

[majadu]

Yes! Forensic nursing provides a specialized education for all nurses who are interested. I have a story to share;

I was working as a travel nurse in the ER of a community hospital. I was assigned to the trauma rooms. I received a call, that I would be receiving a 18 mo M who had fallen off the counter to a tiled floor. When the patient arrived I requested Child Protective Services immediately, based on information I had learned in my Forensic certification classes. The Dr. tried to intervene, and I stood my ground. Police had cleared the scene, and the medics felt the scene was as stated. I saw something else. Not only did this kid have the acute skull fracture (which he could have sustained in the fall), however he had other injuries, older, various stages of healing. THe parents stated the bruising on his leg was a birthmark, the Dr. agreed that it could be. However, CPS came, the child had full body x-rays which provided us with proof. This child had multiple long bone fractures, a previous skull fracture and an old facial fracture. If I had not been forensically trained I may have taken the word of the police, the medics and the DR. Thank you God , for providing me with the education that led the police to the perpetrator (Grandma), and saved this child from further injuries.

[majadu]

I finished the Kaplan Program. They encourage you to ride with the police, work with the coroner. Remember your education is what you make of it no matter where you attend. I learned a ton of information that I use daily from the Kaplan program.

[lvnhopeful]

Hello SirI and forum readers. I am a new nursing student and have had an interest in forensics for quite some time. I took some criminology classes in college but decided to go into nursing. Finding forensic nursing is very exciting and I am looking for some input as to which program to eventually apply for when the time comes.

One of the colleges I am looking at for forensic training is UC Riverside. They offer online courses which they say the average student finishes in 12-18 months. Does anyone have any info as to how good the program is, or are there better ones out there?

Thanks for your time.

[lvnhopeful]

After carefully reading other posts I have learned that I am interested in certification, not a certificate. There are links posted here for those colleges and I will investigate further. Thanks!