Why A Forensic Nurse Job Is So Interesting

In recent years there has been a rash of new and fascinating detective shows on television. On most of them a team of professionals works in unison to determine what the crime and how best to solve it. One important member of that team is a nurse. For a RN who wants a change of pace they may consider taking on a forensic nurse job.

The basics of this job involve being directly involved in aiding crime scene victims and collecting valuable pieces of evidence. Another type of forensic nurse job involves working directly with inmates in prison. There are several different avenues to pursue when a registered nurse decides to study to become a forensic nurse including being a death investigator, forensic examiner and sexual assault nurse examiner.

Training to become a nurse like this typically includes earning certification as a forensic nurse. This can be done at any number of educational institutions as well as online. During the course of training a RN will learn many aspects of forensic science in addition to learning how to deal with victims of crime. Once the coursework is completed a RN can then pursue forensic nursing career opportunities that utilize their knowledge.

If a nurse decides, upon completion of the course, that he or she wants to branch out into a specific aspect of forensics, such as working with sexual assault victims, they can take their training even further. Some schools offer a detailed course on how to interact with both children and adults who are victims. The course also includes instruction on how to properly collect samples that will become crucial evidence. This is a very rewarding part of forensic nursing for those RNs who are patient and incredibly compassionate.

In terms of salary a forensic nurse can earn quite a lot. Many earn as much as $100 an hour depending on the assignment. This amount would typically only be offered to a forensic nurse in a high pressure environment who has a great deal of experience. A starting wage for a forensic nurse is often on par with a RN, which averages between $33 to $35 an hour.

Many forensic nurses find employment in places like the coroner's office or with their local police station's crime lab. In these environments the forensic nurse is able to utilize many instruments including microscopes and digital cameras. They are taught how to effectively use these laboratory tools to collect evidence.

In addition, a forensic nurse can take on a travel position which allows him or her to relocate to a new area for a prescribed period of time. One of the advantages of taking an assignment like this is that it exposes the forensic nurse to many new and interesting experiences.