Forensics and Law Enforcement

[TheBlackDogWaits]

I wanted to post while the experience is fresh...

I just had the opportunity two days ago to attend an autopsy,

I have to say how fortunate my class was to get to sit in on this, considering our instructor is 30+ years into the profession having never seen one herself. Moreover, I feel blessed with the Coroner's enthusiasm to teach us. What a great way for us to pull some pieces together post-didactic, and outside of the hospital setting. To see the physical viscera is an experience every nurse should have, whether they go into forensics or not, and what an experience!!!

After reading so much about how real time forensic nursing is not what you see on television, I can't convey how deflating it feels, as I'm sure some of you know. I am here to tell you that it can be exactly like that. I will admit that I live in an area that was devastated by Katrina, and the facility where we observed was erected afterwards, with all the hindsight to make it disaster friendly. Needless to say, it is a technologically advanced, state-of-the-art facility. Having said this, it isn't the facility that made the experience, but it didn't hurt. What made the experience is staring into this patient's body cavity like it was the greatest jigsaw puzzle I will ever solve. Taking the pieces apart so that, ultimately, I can make sense of how they all fit together to foster the perfect environment for death... was... amazing - I have goosebumps just writing about it.

The coroner fielded our questions like a champ, and afterwards, I had an opportunity to discuss the field with him in terms of nursing. I asked him if he's seen a rise in forensic nursing in this area and he shared with me his disappointment with the contrary, explaining that most of the investigators are law enforcement. He said that it makes more sense for him to use nurse investigators because they understand the language and the reporting is more accurate. It takes less time to train a nurse in the field of law than it does to train law enforcement personnel in the field of medicine. I asked him about how to move forward if I was interested in becoming a nurse investigator, and he said I would work for him, and not the government. He said if he had a choice he would hire a nurse over government-appointed investigators. It gave me such a high to finally have a solid idea of how to move forward, because as I've mentioned before, the career path in this field is so vague.

I really wanted to share this with all of you who have no idea where to start. Start at your local coroner's office. It appears they would be more than happy to have you onboard, if the dark side is where it's at for you. I hope this helps at least a little. Good luck to y'all, and please share your experiences getting into the field, if you are already on the dark side.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

I feel your enthusiasm.

It brought back vivid memories of my first autopsy.

Glad this renewed a spark for you.

That is exactly the advice I've given in this forum - "Start at your local Coroner's office" - shadow a Coroner or ME.

If others, including nursing instructors, decide for you that this area of nursing is, as you say, "on the dark side", and maybe not worthy of your efforts ... just smile and keep trudging for more information.

You will make a fine Forensic Nurse. :)

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I remember my first autopsy as well....it was amazing to see the anatomy so up close and real. I found it fascinating to see how they examined the body for cause of death. If you get the opportunity....watch an organ harvesting. To see everything working and removed it was the saddest, yet fascinating, yet satisfying, yet wonderful things I have experienced.

Johnson & Johnson Forensic Nurse | Johnson & Johnson Discover Nursing

http://amrn.com/faq.html

[amoLucia]

I also watched an autopsy in nsg school. It was an opportunity not to be missed if one can attend a post. The decedent was a woman who must have lived a hard life. I remember 2 very distinct things:

Her liver was huge. Today I realize she must have had advanced hepatomegaly.

And she was a smoker. Her lungs had this copious black chewing-gum-like sticky goop peppered through the lungs. I've learned since that it was probably tar deposits.

That autopsy impressed me a lot - I quit smoking shortly afterwards and I rarely drink alcohol.

Now if only I could address my other vices...

I like investigative sciences - it's like solving a big puzzle. It was not a filed of nursing that I knew about way back in the 'dinosaur days'. I think I would have been good at it.

[Jellybear]

Thank you so much for the post AND the encouragement! Whenever I tell people ultimately I want to get my Masters in Forensic Nursing I always get "Oh? What do they do?" Well I would love to have a hospital based position with my current employer...that will require ALOT of research data collection and presenting to upper administration showing the advantages of being one of the only hospitals in the area with a Forensic Nurse on staff...as well as convincing local Law enforcement the HUGE advantage of having a NURSE on their team who can be HUGE asset for them. Yes, I have my work cut out for me! A girl can dream, right!

Your post gives me hope! It also tells me there is hope and I will be talking with my county coroner as well as the adjacent county (whose coroner is a Forensic Nurse)!

THANK YOU FOR THE FANTASTIC POST AND ENCOURAGEMENT!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

i attended two posts when i was in school, neither arranged thru school. one where i worked and one at the hospital i trained at, but again thru where i worked, indirectly. the hospital i trained at was the county coroner's.

[Murphree8]

I am also looking into this career path. I am currently a RN and obtaining my bachelors. I have been researching and trying to find a school around where I live, Mississippi, but it might be that I have to do it online. I personally do not want to work with this career in the hospital setting, I would like to work in the field with law enforcement. I have no idea where to start. Any ideas would be helpful! Thanks!