Forensic Nursing: Charting A Course Against Violence |
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June 27, 2005
by Edward Castro
ed.castro@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
As hard as it is to believe, homicide can happen in both the workplace and in our public schools. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), there were 639 workplace homicides in 2001 in the United States, out of a total of 8,786 fatal work injuries.
With homicides in the workplace now at an all-time high, forensic nursing professionals are more important than ever in the investigative process.
A Forensic Nursing Course Is Working Knowledge
Workplace violence can be directed at employers or employees, or property. When a violent crime is committed in the workplace, forensic nursing professionals are among the first to access valuable evidence. Whether trained through an accelerated nursing program or through a specialized forensic nursing course, a forensic nurse is made familiar with the results of many kinds of violence.
From Clinical Nurse Specialist to Forensic Nurse
While all nurses are trained to treat victims of violence, only those nurses trained through a forensic nursing course can adequately recognize and collect forensic evidence for use in criminal proceedings. A forensic nursing course can train a nursing professional to collect evidence of assault, product tampering, and vandalism. A forensic nurse is also trained to recognize the emotional trauma resulting from other workplace crimes such as violent threats, sexual harassment, intimidation, verbal abuse, and racial or ethnic discrimination.
Accelerated Forensic Nursing Program
Most accelerated forensic nursing programs are designed for applicants who are already licensed registered nurses or have completed a formal program in nursing. Topics covered in accelerated nursing programs focusing on forensic nursing include traffic medicine, dealing with hostility, physical evidence in sexual assault cases, and forensic toxicology.
About the Author
Edward Castro has extensive experience as a creative media writer.
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