My Journey Into Forensics Continues....

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OK, here's my story. Became an RN about 8 years ago, prior offenses include working as a process server and private investigator, all the bells and whistles that you can imagine. I gave this up when I got married and was raising my son. Became a nurse and am working registry, always have.

Remarried, kid is now a teenager, came into some money that afforded me the luxery of expanding my education, absolutely LAUGH at CSI and wanted to be a witness for the truth. Where to go? Forensics. How? Well asearch online lead me to UC Riverside and I am in the process of completing my Sexual Assault Examiner internship, not the avenue I intend to persue but a great way to network and meet other Forensic nurses.

I just attended a conference in Long Beach of Forensic Nurses and had a BLAST!!! Words cannot describe the information from the presentations and peer review sessions that were provided. My advice, check with your school, your community hospitals for any sex assault conferences, community meetings, check with your local police department for meetings and events.

Ask you PD for a "ride along". The class that I took online was expensive and confusing and in no way prepared me for what it would take to be a SANE-A but the additional research and internship requirements I am quite sure will.

My impression is that this is a very, very young splinter of nursing that will blow wide open with the advent of new technology. It is very frustrating to get a foothold in this line of work but I am sure, if you are dedicated, you will do it. I know I will. Most of the nurses that I met where my age group (40 something) and came into nursing sort of late in life, had bright and curious minds, very, very extroverted, didn't shock easily and , well my impressions of them are best kept to myself. What happens at the conference stays at the conference as they say. I would be happy to elaborate PRN. I am off in January to take a Death Investigator Training Course in St. Louis. Will report my findings. I am also taking a ride along this week and will give feedback on that if you want.

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Where is the course being held? SLU or UMSL? SLU's course is very popular and I've heard many people say the coordinator is excellent. She may do both UMSL and SLU, but I don't remember.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
ok, here's my story. became an rn about 8 years ago, prior offenses include working as a process server and private investigator, all the bells and whistles that you can imagine. i gave this up when i got married and was raising my son. became a nurse and am working registry, always have.

remarried, kid is now a teenager, came into some money that afforded me the luxery of expanding my education, absolutely laugh at csi and wanted to be a witness for the truth. where to go? forensics. how? well asearch online lead me to uc riverside and i am in the process of completing my sexual assault examiner internship, not the avenue i intend to persue but a great way to network and meet other forensic nurses.

i just attended a conference in long beach of forensic nurses and had a blast!!! words cannot describe the information from the presentations and peer review sessions that were provided. my advice, check with your school, your community hospitals for any sex assault conferences, community meetings, check with your local police department for meetings and events.

ask you pd for a "ride along". the class that i took online was expensive and confusing and in no way prepared me for what it would take to be a sane-a but the additional research and internship requirements i am quite sure will.

my impression is that this is a very, very young splinter of nursing that will blow wide open with the advent of new technology. it is very frustrating to get a foothold in this line of work but i am sure, if you are dedicated, you will do it. i know i will. most of the nurses that i met where my age group (40 something) and came into nursing sort of late in life, had bright and curious minds, very, very extroverted, didn't shock easily and , well my impressions of them are best kept to myself. what happens at the conference stays at the conference as they say. i would be happy to elaborate prn. i am off in january to take a death investigator training course in st. louis. will report my findings. i am also taking a ride along this week and will give feedback on that if you want.

sounds utterly intriguing, haunted.:balloons:

since you have always had an interest in the criminal side of things, this type of nursing is right up your alley.

i want to know more as you go on. keep us posted.

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Specializes in CVICU, PICU, ER,TRAUMA ICU, HEMODIALYSIS.

]I am 57 years old, have been a bedside nurse for most of my 30 years in nursing. CCRN, CEN, dialysis, Critical care and ER most of the time and some management. My body is shot. Carpal tunnel both wrists so bad I have to sleep with splints. Arthritis of the spine and scoliosis (I am 5ft6inches now, was 5ft 8 in. in my 30's). Can't do the 12 hours of standing, walking, lifting, etc. anymore. Lately I have been intrigued by what may or may not be involved in Forensics Nursing. I haven't worked for a year due to my physical constraints, but if there is another area of nursing I could train for that would not require the body of the young and spry, my mind is still intact and I am definitely a detail oriented person. I trained in dialysis because I thought that would be less taxing; I was wrong. Pushing around a 300lb dialysis machine from room to room did me no good. I also worked as a telephone triage nurse for a large hospice organization but that was in Houston and there aren't any comparable jobs where I live now in Arizona. I wasn't aware that Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner was included in Forensics Nursing; I know almost nothing about what it involves and would appreciate any info you would be willing to share. I was abducted from a parking lot at age 23 by three men who robbed and raped me at gunpoint so I could relate to sexual assault victims and there isn't much under the sun that would shock me anymore. When you get some time, (you sound happily busy), I would be glad to hear of your experiences so I can decide whether I should start my own journey or just apply for disability and retire. (I have no insurance unfortunately to fix my problems.

God bless America.)

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