Nursing Education & Patient Safety

Forensic Nursing

Forensic nursing is defined because the application of the nursing process to public or judicial proceedings, and therefore the application of forensic care within the scientific investigation of trauma and / or death associated with abuse, violence, criminal activity, liability, and accidents. Forensic nursing combines the practice of nursing and forensic pathology in the scientific investigation of deaths and injuries resulting from criminal activity and accidents. The specialized training that forensic nurses receive related to the medical and legal needs of these patients is driving demand for the specialty. Legal nursing includes roles such as:

• Clinical forensic nurse
• Forensic nurse investigator
• Forensic nurse examiner
• Forensic correctional or institutional nurse