Forensic nursing practice is one of the fastest growing nursing specialties of the 21st century. Increased reports by the news media of violent acts are a constant reminder of the violence that is occurring in our society. Acts of violence affect our relationships, homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.

Before the recognition of forensic nursing as a specialty by the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1995, forensic nursing was a respected practice in the scientific investigation of death. It has been a significant resource in the field of forensic psychiatry as nurses worked with victims of violence and perpetrators in primary care, in the emergency room, and in psychiatric and correctional institutional settings. Forensic nurses provide a vital link in the multidisciplinary treatment of victims, perpetrators, survivors, or individuals falsely accused of abuse and violence (ANA & IAFN, 1999). This chapter focuses on the history of forensic nursing, the scope and standards of forensic nursing practice, the forensic nurse’s code of ethics, and forensic nursing education.

The emergence of modern forensic nursing began with the establishment of the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) programs in the mid-1970s in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Texas. SANEs are trained to collect forensic evidence from sexual assault survivors. Their role as a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team is discussed in Chapter 33, Clients Experiencing Abuse and Violence.

The formal recognition of forensic nursing was accomplished at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Anaheim, California, in February 1991. In that same year, the ANA published a position statement on violence as a nursing practice issue.

During the summer of 1992, several SANEs met to discuss the formation of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), a diverse body of nurses who apply concepts and strategies to provide intervention to victims of crime or perpetrators of criminal acts (IAFN, 2005b). Their mission focuses on the development, promotion and dissemination of information about the science of forensic nursing as well as the establishment and improvement of standards of practice (IAFN, 2005c). Three years later, the Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice in Correctional Facilities was published (ANA, 1995). When the IAFN requested that the ANA recognize forensic nursing as a specialty, the ANA responded to this request and jointly created the Scope and Standards of Forensic Nursing Practice with the IAFN in 1997.

Each year, the IAFN holds a Scientific Assembly at which experts present topics on the latest advances in the field of forensic science and nursing. Papers are accepted for poster presentation at the meeting. Associate members of the IAFN include physicians, criminologists, law enforcement officials, paramedic/emergency technicians, and other interested professionals. The organization also provides a quarterly publication, On the Edge (IAFN, 2005b).

Forensic nursing practice is a unique practice of the expansive role of registered nurses and is independent and collaborative in nature. It has been recognized as a significant resource in forensic psychiatric practice and in the treatment of incarcerated clients. The victim can be the client, the family, the significant other, the alleged perpetrator, or the public in general. The scope of forensic nursing practice encompasses three areas (ANA & IAFN, 1999; IAFN, 2005d):

The forensic nurse provides direct services to nursing, medical, and/or law-related agencies, as well as consultation and expert testimony in areas related to questioned investigative processes, adequacy of services
delivered, and specialized diagnoses of specific conditions as related to forensic nursing and/or pathology (ANA & IAFN, 1999; IAFN, 2005d). Sharing responsibility with the legal system to augment resources available to victims and perpetrators of trauma or violence represents a holistic approach to legal issues for clients in clinical and community-based facilities (Muscari, 2004).

The Standards of Forensic Nursing Practice consists of Standards of Care and Standards of Professional Performance. Forensic nursing Standards of Care describes a competent level of forensic nursing practice as demonstrated by the nursing process. It also delineates services that are provided to all clients of forensic nurses or practitioners including the provision of culturally and ethnically applicable services, maintaining a safe environment, and planning for continuity of care and services.

Standards of Professional Performance

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