A drastic rise in depression is a consequence of improved quality of life. People around the world have suffered from poor mental health. Different data shows that those with mental disorders have a higher likelihood of becoming victims to crimes or committing crime. This contributes significantly to the exponential rise in crime. That’s why forensic science has started to gain substantial ground in recent years. It involves scientific investigations of crimes or instances such as child abuse and rape, and violence that leads to death.
Many people choose to work in broad fields. They can use their talents in multiple capacities. It is a smart career choice to pursue forensic nursing because of the high demand for forensic science and its vast range. There are many opportunities for employment in this field. You can also explore sub-specialties of forensic nursing. Forensic nurses have the primary responsibility of improving the health sector and the justice system. This involves crime scene investigation, death investigations, mental support of assaulted victim, healthcare provision, prevention and education programs as well as consultation with the legal authorities. This is the responsibility of the forensic nurses according to sub-specialties in forensic nursing. This specialty requires students to possess exceptional communication and management skills in addition to their technical knowledge.
After briefly introducing forensic nursing, one must be thinking about ‘WHAT range does the average forensic nurse salary falls into?’ Well, this question is worth pondering. For a newbie, you can earn $77 386 per year. For experienced professionals it can go up to $129,000. That’s not bad. To make it a success, those who wish to pursue a career of forensic nursing may consider this option. There are many sub-specialties in forensic nursing. We will discuss them below.
- Specialists in Correctional Nursing
This specialty requires that students are familiar with the specific areas covered by specialties in correctional nurses. This specialty focuses on the care of prisoners in prisons and detention centres. As the name suggests, it is concerned with correct treatment of such people. Physical examinations, medication management, and provision of relevant supplies are all part of the core function of correctional nursing specialists and the alleged suspect’s assessment. The daily visits by nursing staff to detention facilities are a part of this process. This branch of forensic nursing aids in the health of criminals and aids in the smooth execution of the legal process based on justice, as close monitoring of any criminal, may aid in understanding his specific conduct. The forensic nursing team could use it to find clues.
- Certified Forensic Nursing Specialists
To pursue this career path, one must have a master’s or doctoral degree. Clinical nurse specialists are highly competent and trained to provide patients with basic treatment, diagnosis, and assessments. Their primary role may be that of an educator and clinical expert. Furthermore, their role extends to health care management, women’s health, geriatrics, pediatrics, critical care, cancer, and so forth fall under their scope of practice. So, it’s obvious to have a diverse set of areas to work in. It’s a great market for people looking for work.
- Specialists in Forensic Gerontology
You will be responsible for handling matters involving senior citizens’ rights violations. It is open to all students interested in taking care of elderly people that are neglected or maltreated. As Forensic Gerontology specialists, they assist physicians with their medical procedures and administer medication. The specialists teach self-care skills at hospitals and in old age homes. It is important to remember that students who are redirected to this field must be patient, and remain vigilant.
The future will see this specialty in high demand. In 2019, 9% was made up by the 65-and-over population. It is predicted that this percentage will rise to 16% by 2050. It’s a sizable proportion of the world’s elderly population. These professionals are highly sought after, and have many options.
- Forensic nurse investigators
As the name implies, it involves some investigation, but ‘What might be the mode of investigation?’ is a good question to ask. This discipline, along with the death investigators, conducts close-in investigations of high-level criminal activity. Forensic nurse investigators have the primary purpose of uncovering what happened and why. To do so, they’ll need to gather evidence from the crime spot, examine the body, and aid with medical procedures like autopsies. It covers a lot of ground in forensic medicine. Because it addresses suspicious or unexpected behavior leading to murder, this specialty is recommended only for courageous and strong-willed people.
- Forensic Psychoiatric Nurses
Students who are proficient in evaluation or motivation should consider this field. They can be a great help to someone suffering from mental instability. FPN (forensic psychiatric nurse) deals with criminals as well as victims. These nurses are responsible for assessing a person on the basis of court orders. Their patients may include victims and offenders, as well children, women, or professionals from another field. Popular job opportunities for nurses include hospitals, mental health centers and detention centres.
The number of people who have mental problems is increasing exponentially around the world, making this field extremely demanding. These events include sexual assaults on women and children as well as family destruction, war atrocities and individual exploitation. You are a forensic psychiatrist nurse and should be able to comfort those affected by these events. This path is a great way to advance your career, and it shows a positive outlook toward the world.
- Nursing Coroners and Death Investigators
Nurse coroners and forensic nurse investigators are quite similar. They are responsible for investigating crime scene related issues. Common crimes include homicide, rape and suspicious deaths/murders. The nurse coroners examine the victim’s body and determine when the death will occur. They are also required to be on site at the crime scene. They must also be able to read bloodstain patterns and fingerprints, as well as collaborate with medical examiners. In addition to technical abilities, they need courage and the ability to effectively execute their duties. These people are more likely to work in hospitals and medical facilities.
Conclusion
This profession, in my opinion, is just as good as the ‘live and let live concept because it allows people to make a career while imparting their services to humanity. Forensic nurses also provide evidence and reports that can be used by law enforcement agencies to conduct legal proceedings. This makes it a crucial part of bringing about positive change in society.
Enterprise Podcast Network – EPN first published 6 specialties for a career in forensic nursing.
