Provide expert care for victims of violence as a forensic nurse.
Crime rates in the U.S. fluctuate, but the demand for forensic nursing professionals keeps growing. This emerging field prepares you to be a clinical expert who can lead teams and provide optimal nursing care for patients when their health care needs intersect with the legal system.
As a forensic nurse, you’ll be at the forefront in providing compassionate care, collecting evidence and collaborating with legal teams. Duquesne’s forensic nursing degree will also equip you with the knowledge to serve as an expert witness in the court system.
What does a forensic nurse do?
It can be hard for victims of violence and abuse to seek treatment. It’s a very difficult time in their lives. They need a trained trauma-informed health professional who understands what they’re going through and can provide comfort as well as treatment.
Victims of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, neglect or other forms of intentional injury will trust you to be an advocate for them while you’re administering care. It will be your responsibility to collect evidence and consult with legal authorities before providing facts and expert testimony to apprehend or prosecute perpetrators. You’ll play a vital role in both our health care and criminal justice systems because your expertise blends nursing, science and the legal system.
Position yourself as a leader in the fight against violent crime.
Environments that need forensic experts.
- Emergency departments
- Courtrooms
- Urgent care centers
- Legal firms
- Police departments
- Correctional facilities
- Coroner’s offices
- Domestic abuse shelters
Forensic Nursing Career opportunities that can make a difference.
The majority of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) trained forensic nurses are in hospitals, and 25% work in community settings. But the arena where forensic nurses can practice is diverse, and it’s growing in complexity.
Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist
Forensic clinical nurse specialists provide expertise in clinical and community practices, including emergency rooms, legal settings and government systems. You’ll offer expertise to fellow nurses and train them on how to provide comprehensive care for victims of violence.
Average salary: $71,000*
Forensic Corrections Nurse
Correctional nurses work with victims who are imprisoned in jails, juvenile centers or other correctional facilities. You’ll provide care for inmates when they arrive through inmate screenings and care for them throughout their time in the facility.
Average salary: $70,000*
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is trained in how to provide specialty care for victims of sexual assault. You’ll know how to properly gather evidence and may be called as an expert witness during a trial.
Average salary: $81,000**
Forensic Nurse Death Investigator
Your role as a forensic nurse death investigator varies depending on the environment where you choose to practice. Investigators may work in a coroner’s office or with a team of law enforcement detectives to determine the cause of death.
Average salary: $73,000***
Legal Nurse Consultant
A legal nurse consultant provides expert health care knowledge for legal professionals. You’ll assist lawyers with the collection and analysis of evidence, such as patients’ medical charts and documents, while also serving as an expert medical witness.
Average salary: $78,000****
Forensic Psychiatric Nurse
Forensic psychiatric nurses specialize in the treatment and rehabilitation of criminals, which means that your patients may deal with mental illness or behavioral disorders. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside law enforcement officers in mental health and correctional facilities.
Average salary: $42,000*****
*Indeed.com | **NursingLink | ***SalaryExpert.com | ****PayScale | *****SimplyHired.com
Benefits of earning your Master of Science Degree in Forensic Nursing.
- Specialized training in an emerging and growing field
- Broader and more varied career options with the potential for higher earnings
- Intersect with law enforcement and legal systems while providing supportive care for the most vulnerable patients