Forensic nursing is where law and healthcare meet. A forensic nurse collects biological evidence and provides care to victims of neglect and acts of violence, such as domestic violence and sexual assault. Wondering how to become a forensic nurse? You'll need to earn your BSN, obtain licensure and gain experience.
Every nursing student has reasons for deciding to enter the profession. Most are motivated by the opportunity to help others and make a difference in their community. Beyond that, nursing offers unique professional opportunities, like specializing in a particular patient population or pursuing advanced degrees. One nursing specialty available to you is forensic nursing.
Madonna University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program can equip you with the tools to earn your degree and become a forensic nurse. Madonna’s comprehensive curriculum includes online coursework, simulation labs and clinical rotations to ensure students are prepared to sit for the NCLEX exam and begin working toward a forensic nursing career upon graduation.
But what do forensic nurses do? Let’s learn what a forensic nurse is and consider whether this specialty might be the right choice for you.
What Is Forensic Nursing?
Before deciding if this nursing specialty is right for you, you must understand what it is and what the job entails.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to get into nursing school and start working toward your new career.
Defining Forensic Nursing
A forensic registered nurse (RN) provides trauma-informed healthcare services to victims of neglect and intentional harm. They work with crime survivors in the aftermath of incidents, giving care and collecting evidence. Forensic nursing is at the intersection of healthcare and law enforcement and plays a vital role in both fields.
Where Do Forensic Nurses Work?
As a qualified forensic nurse, you can pursue work opportunities in several settings. Many of these RNs work in hospitals, but others work in domestic violence shelters, psychiatric facilities, correctional facilities or coroners’ offices. Think carefully about the specific type of patient you’d like to work with when choosing a work environment. For example, if you’d like to work with domestic violence survivors, you might look for opportunities in a domestic violence shelter.
What Does a Forensic Nurse Do?
These nurses work with patients of all ages, caring for individuals who have suffered harm due to domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and other acts of violence. They also care for patients who have suffered injury due to neglect, as in the case of child or elder neglect.
These nurses are responsible for:
- Conducting comprehensive patient assessments
- Collecting biological evidence of the crime
- Providing healthcare, such as dressing wounds and administering medications
- Providing emotional support to victims and serving as a compassionate advocate for them
- Testifying in court
A forensic nurse may also collect biological evidence from suspects to help build a lawsuit. Throughout their careers, forensic nurses may lend their expertise to death investigations and mass-casualty disasters. Although these RNs provide emotional support, it’s important to remember that they are not therapists; they work as part of a team that may include crisis counselors and other professionals.
How to Become a Forensic Nurse
If you’re interested in pursuing this nursing specialty, you should cultivate the following soft skills:
- Compassion
- Emotional resilience
- Active listening
Patient advocacy and some legal knowledge will also be helpful for this career pathway. In addition, you’ll need to take the following steps to become a licensed RN and develop the necessary skills.
Earn Your BSN
If you aren’t already a practicing RN, earning your nursing degree is the first step toward pursuing this specialty. Many nurses choose a standard four-year program, but you might not need to return to school for four more years if you have a prior non-nursing college education.
Instead, you may be eligible for an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, such as the one at Madonna University. No prior healthcare experience is required, but you need a minimum of 60 college credits with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher. You also meet eligibility requirements with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and a cumulative 2.8 GPA or higher.
If you qualify, you could earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months after completing the necessary prerequisite courses.
What is an ABSN, exactly? Learn more here and find out if it could be right for you.
Pass the NCLEX-RN
Earning your BSN is the first step toward a career in forensic nursing. After graduation, you’ll sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The NCLEX is a rigorous exam that will test your nursing knowledge and ability to develop appropriate clinical responses to various patient care scenarios.
It’s best to begin preparing for the exam well in advance. If you don’t pass it the first time, you can take the exam more than once, but it’s ideal to pass it on your first attempt. After passing the NCLEX, you’ll receive your nursing license.
Ready to tackle the NCLEX-RN exam? Review these tips on how to pass the NCLEX.
Gain Experience and Specialized Training
Once you have your nursing license, you can apply for your first nursing job. Forensic nursing is not an entry-level nursing specialty, although experience requirements vary from one employer and state to the next. If you don’t qualify for a forensics-related position immediately, look for roles in pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing or ER nursing to gain relevant experience.
Continuing Education and Certifications in the Specialty
Even after you land your first forensic nursing position, seeking professional development opportunities is vital. The nursing field is continually evolving, so staying on top of the latest research and trends is essential. Look for forensics-related training courses and consider earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Start by checking out Madonna’s graduate nursing programs to learn more about how an advanced nursing degree can help your career. You should also pursue certifications in your specialty area.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Certification
One certification that is highly recommended for forensic nurses is the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner certification. The SANE certification exams are offered twice yearly. You must meet work experience and training course requirements to be eligible to sit for the exam.
FNCB Certification
Another certification to consider earning is board certification from the Forensic Nursing Certification Board (FNCB). The FNCB offers multiple certification options, including the Generalist Forensic Nurse certification and the Advanced Forensic Nurse certification. Each option has different requirements and goals, so choose the one that best fits your career.
Forensic Nurses: Career Opportunities and Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not specifically track employment data for forensic RNs. However, the job growth rate for all RNs is expected to be 6% from 2023 through 2033, resulting in about 197,200 new jobs nationwide.
After gaining work experience, you may pursue career advancement through professional development, higher education and certifications. Some career advancement opportunities include nurse researcher, clinical nurse educator and nursing program coordinator.
Get Your Start at Madonna University
Whether your future lies in forensic nursing or another specialty, you can prepare for it at Madonna University. As a Catholic university, Madonna emphasizes values-based education, with faculty members dedicated to our students’ spiritual and personal growth.
Our ABSN program offers a blended curriculum, meaning you can take courses online and develop critical nursing skills in person at our ABSN Learning Site in Metro Detroit. With three start dates each year, you can begin your education as soon as you’ve completed the prerequisite courses. Contact an admissions representative today.