Educational Pathways and Skills Needed for a Successful Forensic Nursing Career

Forensic nurses work with victims of crimes. Their responsibility is both to treat the patient's wounds, but also to collect evidence that can be used in the ensuing police investigation. Forensic nurses work often with victims of sexual assault and are frequently one of the first people the victims see after they report their attack.

Naturally, this makes the work very difficult—both emotionally, and in terms of the scope of its responsibilities.

How do you become a forensic nurse? In this article, we provide a detailed answer to that question.

It Starts with a BSN

You can think of the BSN as the degree that launches a thousand careers. Dozens, at least. There are TONS of ways to use a degree in nursing—including forensic nursing. All of these careers start with the “same” first step. Get your bachelor’s degree in nursing.

There is no academic subspecialty that will allow you to concentrate on forensic nursing. Nursing undergraduate students all receive the same generalized—and highly regulated—education so that they will be adequately prepared to step into a wide range of different careers.

So, while getting a BSN is not the final step you will need to take in order to become a forensic nurse, it is the first one.

Most nurses take the traditional four-year degree route. They start their BSN program as bright-eyed bushy-tailed freshmen and spend the next four years learning the ropes, taking gen-eds, acquiring political opinions that start fights around the Thanksgiving table, and generally living the normal life of a typical college student.

It’s worth noting, however, that there are a couple of alternative options worth considering:

• Accelerated nursing degree: In this scenario, you already have a bachelor’s degree. It just isn’t in nursing. Good news—you don’t have to start from scratch. All of your college credits will allow you to skip a lot of the drudgery, creating the potential to get licensed in as little as 12-18 months. These programs are hard, but they are a great way to get the ball rolling on a new career.

• Direct-to-hire: In this scenario, you basically bundle an undergraduate and graduate degree into one 4-5 year timeline. Normally, both programs would take a combined 6-7 years to complete. The direct-to-hire route creates a chaotic college experience, but it does allow you to enter the job market with a highly desirable resume. Some schools offer graduate programs with a concentration on forensic nursing, which could certainly be an added bonus.

Once you’ve decided on your degree path, it’s time to get certified.

Passing the Test

For all aspiring nurses, the NCLEX lurks like the dragon at the end of an elaborate quest. It’s a monster of an exam that all nurses must take and pass in order to begin working. Most do succeed. Something like 80% of test takers pass on their first try. Promising odds if ever there were any.

Still, it’s something you need to take seriously. Engage heavily with the practice materials. Ask your school what sort of preparatory support they provide. Take practice exams. There is a mandatory delay period—which varies depending on where you live—between when you graduate and when you can take the test. Use that time to prepare.

Failing the exam significantly reduces your chances of ever successfully completing it. It also delays your career by months.

Once you’ve passed the NCLEX, it’s time to….

Gain Experience

You can’t just walk right into a career in forensic nursing. Your first step will be to gain professional experience. To meet the licensing requirements of forensic nursing you must:

• Gain experience in relevant nursing fields such as emergency, critical care, evidenced-based practice, or psychiatric nursing for at least 2 years to develop the necessary clinical skills.

• Obtain certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) through a 40-hour didactic course and clinical training, which covers topics like evidence collection, legal issues, and victim advocacy.

• Consider pursuing advanced education, such as a Master's degree in Forensic Nursing or a related field, to enhance knowledge and career opportunities, although this is not always required.

• Seek employment in settings that utilize forensic nurses, such as hospitals with SANE programs, coroner's or medical examiner's offices, correctional facilities, or as consultants for law enforcement agencies.

It takes many people two or more years to move into forensic nursing. This owes both to the complexity of the job’s requirements and the competitive job market. Keep in mind that, while one hospital may need dozens of nurses, one community may only have several forensic nurses.

That being the case, some nurses may find that they have to wait a long time before a forensic position opens up. That, or be open to the possibility of moving. It is a difficult field to get into but the work is highly rewarding.

Things to Consider

Aside from the barrier to entry—which is not insignificant—it is important to remember that this is a career that will inevitably take a significant emotional toll. You are going to see people as they deal with the worst moments of their lives. Yes, all nurses do this, but not always in such unexpected ways.

People know that they will get sick, and maybe/probably one day get sick in a way that never gets better. They don’t expect to be the victim of violent crime. That’s a different kind of trauma—one that not everyone has the stomach for.

Forensic nurses also spend a lot of their time working with the police and testifying in court. These aspects of the work may differ from expectations, and take you away from the patient care element of the work that attracted you to the job in the first place.

Are these barriers a big problem? They don’t have to be. It is, however, important to be aware of them. Forensic nursing is a tough job. Make sure it is something you are serious about before you begin down the lengthy path required to work in this career.