One thing that’s certain, and that’s law enforcement can’t rest on its laurels. It must constantly strive to be one step ahead of the criminal. This has lead to a field that was virtually unheard of barely a generation ago, forensic nursing, and scholarship are rising to meet this growing need.

The forensic nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) who cares for the living. Primarily made up of women, they must examine some of the worst of what one can human can do another, yet maintain a steely calm for evidence that will help the police corner the perpetrator. Other responsibilities could include assisting the medical examiner in autopsies or being called upon by courts to testify regarding collected evidence.

Because of their work, forensic nurses are employed by local police departments as for a medical institution. They can also be found at non-profit organizations offering affordable medical care for victims of rape and physical abuse. Finally, some end up at law offices (both prosecutorial and defense) or in universities, teaching the specialty.

As it stands, the field is so new there are no hard numbers as to how many forensic nurses are actually in the work force. On the other hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has made some relatively sophisticated guesses about the profession’s future.

One thing all sources do agree on is the demand for forensic nurses is much greater than for most white collar fields. The Bureau projects general need will be for an additional 31% before the decade ends. The average rate for most white collar professionals is between 10% to 12%. Salary is also still approximated, but estimated to be in the upper $50,000 range as the pay appears to parallel an RN’s.

If one is interested in becoming a forensic nurse, the process is pretty much the same as becoming an RN. That is a high school student will look for a good nursing degree online, online or on campus, and initially go for a four year program aiming for a B.S. in Nursing. The nurse must also get her RN certification.

It’s in the post-grad work where things start to differ. Forensic nurses also must take courses in criminal justice, law and forensic science. As they are usually already in the workforce after getting their BS, this is a particularly critical time for students to enroll in an online program, so they can balance work and classes at the same time.

Still, after all this education gained at nursing schools, forensic nursing has a number of positives. Besides the wages and benefits, it’s sitting on the cutting edge of both law enforcement and the latest medical findings. It’s also a field that’s still evolving, which means people working in it could end up contributing to its development. Not surprisingly, many nursing school university for online college education programs exist to help those wishing to enter this and other RN fields.

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