How to Become a Forensic Nurse

A forensic nurse examiner works beside hospital staff collecting and documenting evidence while treating patients. Here are some of the specialties you can choose to pursue in forensic nursing:

• Correctional nursing
• Sexual assault nursing
• Gerontology specialization
• Nurse coroner/death investigation
• Legal nurse consulting
• Community education

Forensic nursing schools prepare students to confront extreme human behavior. Patients are not always willing to come forward after experiencing a sexual or abusive crime, so forensic nurses may be required to read into the actions, medical histories and markings on the body of their patients to decipher the truth.

The majority of forensic nurse examiners practice as sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE), performing the collection of delicate evidence and catering to the emotional needs of the victim. Evidence is extremely time-sensitive and needs to be collected within a 72-hour window, but it must be gathered in a manner that does not cause the patient to experience further trauma. Forensic nurses are advocates for the patient and may be called to present the evidence they discovered in court.

To begin working toward your forensic nursing degree you need to first be a registered nursing (RN). Most nursing schools with a forensic nursing degree program offer 2-year graduate-level courses awarding a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree upon completion.

Working as a SANE nurse requires additional specialized credentials to prove you have had the required training for working with victims of rape and sexual abuse. To qualify for the SANE certification examination you will need:

• To have two years of experience working as a licensed RN
• To hold an active nursing license
• To have earned your MSN degree

Earning the SANE-A certificate will enable you to work with adolescents and adults. A SANE-P certificate requires three years of registered nursing experience and allows you to practice in pediatric SANE positions. Both certifications have to be renewed every three years and are not required for other forensic nursing fields.

According to Payscale.com, the starting wage for a forensic nurse examiner can be between $21 - $41 per hour with the potential to eventually earn as much as $70 per hour, depending on your state and specialty.

A forensic nurse salary can vary depending on where you decide to seek employment, but forensic nurses in general earn more than RNs because of their higher education. Working independently as a private consultant for law enforcement agencies, insurance companies or even a hospital can offer better wages, but first establishing your reputation requires more initiative and experience.

As a new field, forensic nursing is a promising nursing career providing a very important service; however, the job opportunities are limited and the current demand is low. Not all hospitals have a forensic nurse examiner due to the cost to maintain an additional department. In addition to their hospital duties some examiners use their advanced nursing degree in schools and communities as educators and counselors.
_{Sources:
TheForensicNurse.com, 2009
International Association of Forensic Nurses, 2009
PayScale.com, 2011}