Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) are often believed to function solely as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners or “SANE” nurse. While that is obviously important work, FNEs are so much more than that!
What is a FNE? Forensic nurses are specially trained RNs or Advanced Practice RNs who work not only with victims of crime but often with the perpetrators as well. They connect healthcare and the legal system and provide trauma-informed care to patients in a variety of settings such as hospitals, medical examiner/coroner’s office, correctional facilities, psychiatric facilities, private investigation firms, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, and more.
The patients they encounter are often involved in criminal acts such as:
Sexual assault
Physical assault
Domestic/interpersonal violence
Child abuse
Strangulation
Shootings/Stabbings
Homicide
DUI/Drug related incidents
FNEs excel at:
the collection, handling and management of evidence in a manner that maintains its integrity for court;
performing detailed physical examination to identify injuries and other findings;
completing comprehensive documentation of the incident and relevant medical history, findings, and evidence collection;
providing medical care to crime victims and suspects; and
testifying to their processes, findings and expert opinions of the case.
FNEs are not only essential members of healthcare teams, they are also indispensable members of legal teams.
