Forensic Nursing Careers, Salary, and Environments |
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December 13, 2005
by Edward Castro
Healthcare Programs Columnist
With forensic nurse training you could work as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), forensic nurse investigator, researcher, clinical forensic nurse specialist, death investigator, or a legal nurse consultant.
Currently the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) has 2,200 members. Each has been trained either through certification, coursework conducted through an online nursing college or traditional nursing college, or combined online and traditional nursing master's programs.
Forensic Nursing Salary
A forensic nursing salary starts at around $26 per hour and can reach as high as $100 per hour depending on location, responsibility, education, and experience. Legal nurse consultants earn upwards of $150 an hour.
Working Environments
Forensic nurses may work in coroner's offices, domestic violence intervention facilities, and hospital or clinical settings. With certifications and training through an online nursing college, a SANE-certified forensic nurse could enter a sexual assault subspecialty, including children, adolescents, adults, males, females, and the elderly. SANE programs are most often in hospitals, but may also be conducted through a district attorney's office or social work organizations such as rape crisis centers.
Tools Of The Trade
Training through an online nursing college or online nursing master's program also features exposure to various tools such as digital cameras, microscopes, and forensic light sources which help detect bruising under the surface of the skin and can help document a victim's injuries for court cases.
Tools Of The Trade
A forensic nurse with a degree from an online or traditional nursing college is prepared to identify, collect, and preserve evidence from a victim at the hospital or crime scene. Getting the proper training is the first step in securing a lucrative forensic nursing salary.
About the Author
Edward Castro has an extensive experience as a creative media writer. His client portfolio has included such notables as Hewlett-Packard, Sony Computer Entertainment, Shockwave, AtomFilms, GameBlast and Mervyn's California. In his current position, Ed is developing the marketing strategy of an Internet start-up company specializing in Japanese trade goods.
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