Forensic nurses manage and provide care to those who have experienced violence, trauma, and abuse. They apply nursing knowledge to be used to deliver justice through our legal system. Forensic nurses work with victims, medical and health facilities, community centers, law enforcement, and the judicial system. They are part crime investigators, and healthcare providers joined together to deliver a unique contribution to patient care.
Forensic nurses possess a special type of compassion that permits them to provide emotional support to victims while keeping the task of gathering evidence needed by law enforcement at the forefront. They are sensitive to the patient’s needs but are cognizant that the way they can help the most is to assess what will be required to carefully develop a case.
Some forensic nurses focus on sexual assault and become members of a team investigating those crimes. They acquire special training and certification to assist adults and children with these traumatic injuries. Human trafficking victims or others who have been neglected are often seen and managed by forensic nurses.
Forensic nurses often receive advanced training to improve their skills. Some become certified as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). Others become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) or clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) specializing in forensic or mental health.
Forensic nurses’ roles depend on what setting they work in. Forensic nurses may examine prisoners in correctional facilities and gather evidence from those who have encountered violence to be administered in court. They interview patients being mindful that many have mental illness and have difficulty responding or may react irrationally to their questioning.
Some forensic nurses are involved in community or nonprofit anti-violence groups. They may be asked to provide lectures and reach out directly by planning awareness programs.
Forensic nurses often work in the ED to help examine those who have experienced sexual assaults or other violence. They gather evidence during the exam and comfort the victim and their families.
In the medical examiner’s office, forensic nurses may assist coroners in examining victims’ bodies to help determine the cause of death. Some forensic nurses are asked to testify as expert witnesses in court cases.
Forensic nurses work in correctional facilities, emergency departments, law enforcement, coroner & medical examiner's offices, and community services organizations (Sexual Assault Response Teams).
You can advance your career by getting an MSN or doctoral degree with a forensic nursing focus. Alternatively, if you have already become an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), you can obtain an Advanced Practice Forensic Nursing (APFN) Certificate or seek more education in mental health as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
Forensic nurses are BCLS certified, and it is highly encouraged that they become additionally certified after gaining experience.
There are two sexual assault certifications through the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification (CFNC):
• SANE-A: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Adult/Adolescent)
• SANE-P: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Pediatric)
To be eligible to take either exam, you:
Forensic Nursing Specialist Certification Program:
Forensic nurses typically make between $53,118 - $92,815, with a median salary of $68,725, according to Salary.com.
The May 2021 Bureau of Labor and Statistics report shows which states have the highest and lowest wages for nurses. They do not list by nurse specialty, but forensic nurse salaries would likely follow suit. The highest-paid states are California, Hawaii, and Oregon. The lowest-paid states are South Dakota, Alabama, and Mississippi.
