It is a healthcare profession that focuses on providing emergency treatment to both victims and suspects of violent crime. Most of a the nurse’s patients are affected by crime, so these types of programs combine elements of medicine and law. The nurses cooperate with medical staff and the police to collect and preserve biological samples like blood or semen that can be used as evidence in a criminal trial. Sometimes they are asked to be expert witnesses in court, so these programs teach students about the criminal justice system and how to make ethical decisions. As a field, it has emerged only within the last 20 years, so there are only a few educational options to choose from. You can either earn a masters degree or an undergraduate degree, plus a graduate certificate. No matter what …show more content…
If you are considering a career in this specialized field, you are in for several years of medical training. You will need to earn your nursing credentials before you can specialize in forensics and you will need to continually update your education throughout your career.
Prerequisite Education and Licensing
Before you can specialize in this field, you must become a licensed registered nurse. All states require nursing students to graduate from an approved nursing program, which takes 2 to 4 years to complete, depending on the educational path that you choose.
You must also pass the national licensing examination, which is called the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The NCLEX-RN measures your knowledge of safe and effective nursing procedures. As of 2012, nursing students pay $200 to register for the exam. A registered nursing license needs to be renewed periodically. The process and frequency of renewal varies by state, so it is important to know the guidelines of your state.
Continuing