Forensic Nursing Associations Serve as Catalysts for Forensic Nursing

Forensic Nursing Associations Serve as Catalystsfor Forensic NursingNurses as we know, assist patients and doctors inthe field of health care and care giving. As theworld becomes more and more exposed to crimes, therole of the nurse evolved. A new branch of nursinghas grown and this is a profession, which coversmedical care and judicial or legal assistance at

the same time. These new breed of professionalsconvene in what is called a forensic nursingassociation.Forensic nurses practice this newest form offorensic science where they gather evidencesrelated to a crime that may have been committedon a patient. The forensic information theygather can be used during trials, which may alsocall them as professional witnesses.Forensic nursing is primarily geared towardshelping victims of violence by producing theevidences that will help solve the crime. Thetraditional way to investigate on a patient is tohave several people approach and ask questions.These are the social workers, doctors, police,FBI agent, etc. The victim, who may still betraumatized, will only feel worst since therecaps of the crime will have to be repeated overand over again. This can be addressed by havingjust one person do everything from beginning to

end of the investigation. Beginning being,evidence gathering and end being, court trialsand possible justice for the victim. The forensicnurse can be all these.Forensic nurses take charge of cases of abuse andviolent crimes and oftentimes, these nurses findtheir work truly enjoyable and very muchrewarding. Owe it to the popularity of related TVprograms on cable, or owe it to the increasingcrime rate, more and more clinic nurses who feelthey could qualify, are enrolling incertification programs.The American Nurses Association recognizes thisnew field that is fast becoming popular. Nurseswho just graduated as well as the reallyexperienced Registered Nurses can consider thisas their career path.Many experts see the demand for the forensicnurses to grow and grow. This should be a cause

for alarm since the growth of these special nursesmean there is increasing crime rate in the countrybut that 抯 practically why the field gotconceptualized.Organizations like the International Associationof Forensic Nurses (IAFN) have been created tolead this budding group of forensicsprofessionals. Associations like the IAFNprovide services to help develop the field. Theyimplement programs that promote the science, anddisseminate necessary information about the newpractice.Members of these organizations are registerednurses that are into forensic nursing activitieslike:* Scientific investigation of a evidencesgathered* Providing treatment to patients who are

traumatized* Handling interpersonal violence cases likesexual assault, abuses of all kinds, and domesticviolence* Investigation of death* Managing forensic psychiatric cases* Correctional nursing in prisons orrehabilitation centersMost forensic nurses have major roles in thefollowing venues: special hospital units,offices of the medical examiners or coroners, lawenforcement agencies, social service units of thegovernment, and other related institutions. Thisnew field has indeed opened more doors for allnurses worldwide.

A forensic nursing association plays a big rolein the development of this very significantaspect of forensics, judicial, and medicalsystems in the society. These groups could be thebest media to assist in the fight against violenceand crimes.