Clinical Forensic Nursing: A New Perspective in the Management of Crime Victims from Trauma to Trial

Preparedness to care for victims of violence and their families in emergency departments

“…Although forensic nursing is not yet a recognised specialty or a part of the nursing curriculum in Sweden, registered nurses are reported as those with this specific responsibility. In previous research, registered nurses in EDs have also been recognised as well placed with a distinct opportunity to care for victims of violence and their families 18 19. On the other hand, studies also show that registered nurses express a need for education and structure to include forensic tasks, something that is not always sufficiently provided 20…”

Forensic nursing in Bolu, Turkey: a survey

“…In other countries, there has been support for this concept from those who recognize the amount of knowledge required to go beyond the traditional treatment of crime victims and fill a greater role through forensic expertise in health care programs. 10 Experience in nursing does not suffice to cope with the evolving professional demands of forensic nursing practice. Therefore, formal education programs have to be developed at both, the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, providing initial and continuing education.…”

“…If, however, proper precautions are not taken to ensure unaltered condition when collecting specimens, the forensic examination is compromised. 10,11 As a public service profession, nursing has a responsibility to maintain standards of practice while processing victims of human violence. Violence and its associated trauma are widely recognized as a critical health problem throughout the world.…”

Maintaining the Chain of Custody Evidence Handling in Forensic Cases

“…There is an epidemic of interpersonal violence in the United States, and it is the responsibility of medical personnel to identify, treat, and refer victims of abuse to appropriate authorities and ensure that items that may be presented as evidence in courts of law are not compromised. Clinical forensic nursing is a relatively new field that unites the disciplines of nursing science, forensic science, and criminal justice to protect victims' legal, civil, and human rights 1 . The term forensic derives from the Latin word forensics , meaning a public debate or forum or pertaining to the law 2 .…”