---
title: How to Become a Forensic Nurse
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/how-to-become-a-forensic-nurse/"
type: post
date_published: 2024-05-23
date_modified: 2025-08-01
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 1889
reading_time: 10 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/how-to-become-a-forensic-nurse/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Forensic-Nurse.webp"
categories:
  - Nursing Careers
---

# How to Become a Forensic Nurse

![Forensic Nurse](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Forensic-Nurse.webp)

Are you passionate about restoring justice and empowering abuse survivors? Do
you find yourself constantly asking questions and feeling naturally inquisitive?
Are you detail-oriented and excel in critical thinking? Do you want to use these
skills in healthcare? If you said yes, then a career in forensic nursing may be
the perfect fit for you!

Forensic nursing is a unique career that blends the science of healthcare with
the investigation of law enforcement. Careful nursing assessment and
documentation provide evidence used in crime cases, supporting the legal system.
Forensic nurses serve as patient advocates for those who’ve experienced violence
and trauma, offer support and resources, and help contribute to safer
communities. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how
to become a forensic nurse, from what they are, to what nursing education you’ll
need to become one.

## What is a Forensic Nurse?

A forensic nurse is a registered nurse who provides specialized nursing care to
patients that have experienced violence, such as assault or abuse. These nurses
often work with deceased patients, gathering evidence for legal purposes. They
frequently work alongside medical examiners, law enforcement, pathologists, and
coroners.

#### What do forensic nurses do?

These nursing professionals gather evidence through thorough assessments and
provide detailed, accurate documentation that can be used in resolving crimes
and seeking justice. Additionally, they offer emotional and psychological
support to patients and their families by providing trauma-informed care.

#### Where do forensic nurses work?

As you think about how to become a forensic nurse, you probably wonder where you
could potentially work. Common workplaces for forensic nurses include hospitals,
coroner’s offices, prisons, psychiatric hospitals, CSI, FBI, and rape crisis
centers.

---

## Choose a Nursing Education Path

Your very first step in your journey to becoming a forensic nurse is to enroll
in nursing school. There are different routes to become a registered nurse (RN),
but they mostly boil down to two options: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

![Faculty member discusses coursework with nursing students at our school.](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Nursing-School-Hospital-Clinical-Partnerships.jpg)![Faculty member discusses coursework with nursing students at our school.](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Nursing-School-Hospital-Clinical-Partnerships.jpg)
A BSN program takes three to four years on average to complete, equips students
with foundational nursing knowledge, and dives into advanced concepts such as
nursing leadership and research analysis. Keep in mind that most healthcare
employers prefer or require their nurses to have a BSN. Holding a BSN degree
also offers you more career advancement opportunities down the road.

The ADN program takes about two years to complete and prepares students to
become entry-level nurses. Although it covers basic nursing skills and
fundamental nursing education, it is less intensive than the BSN program. While
you do have a chance to enter the field sooner with the ADN, you limit your
ability to advance in your nursing career. For example, if you wanted to become
a nurse practitioner (NP) one day, you’d first have to obtain a BSN before
starting the NP-related education.

## Find an Accredited Nursing Program

It’s very important to ensure that the nursing school you choose is
programmatically accredited. As part of nursing accreditation, an independent
authority reviews the program to ensure it meets the necessary education
requirements for nursing students. If you don’t choose an accredited program,
you may not be eligible to apply for RN licensure in your state or sit for the
NCLEX-RN exam.

Finding an accredited nursing program is relatively simple, as most nursing
programs will proudly display their accreditation. But if you don’t see
accreditation listed as part of the nursing program, you’ll want to verify with
their admissions team that they are in fact accredited. The most common
accreditations are the
[Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education](https://www.aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation/find-accredited-programs)
(CCNE), the
[Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing](https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs)
(ACEN), and the
[Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation](https://cnea.nln.org/standards-of-accreditation)
(NLN CNEA). ACEN-accredited schools are required to display this status
publicly, while CCNE-accredited schools may choose not to display it. The links
above will take you to directories where you can search for accredited nursing
schools.

In addition to checking for accreditation, you’ll also want to ensure your
nursing program is approved by the board of nursing in the state in which you
want to work as an RN. This can be done by searching the database on the state
board of nursing’s website.

## Learn Nursing Skills & Theory

A nursing education will equip students with the theory (knowledge) and skills
(practice) of nursing. Some of the core classes in nursing programs include
fundamentals of nursing, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and
pathophysiology. One core component in these classes is clinical judgment. This
concept is one of the most important parts of nursing because it’s how nurses
analyze patient health and make their treatment decisions.

Clinical judgment involves synthesizing information gathered from physical
assessment, patient histories, laboratory findings, and diagnostic tests to make
clinical decisions and ask important questions. This skill is essential for
forensic nurses who are essentially the Sherlock Holmes in healthcare.

Other nursing courses are beneficial to building a solid foundation of nursing
skills and knowledge. These nursing courses will provide valuable education for
your future forensic nursing career:

- **Anatomy and Physiology:** This class teaches nursing students about bodily
  functions, relationships between body systems and organs, and how diseases can
  alter these systems. This knowledge is fundamental for forensic nurses who
  must use critical thinking to analyze medical evidence.
- **Physical Assessment:** This class teaches nursing students how to perform
  comprehensive physical assessments, obtain health histories, and identify
  signs of health problems. As a forensic nurse, your assessment skills will be
  one of your most relied upon abilities.
- **Ethics in Healthcare:** This class teaches nursing students about ethical
  decision making in healthcare, patient rights and autonomy, and how to
  navigate ethical dilemmas. Forensic nurses often care for patients who’ve had
  their rights violated, making this course crucial for these nurses to provide
  professional and compassionate trauma-informed care.
- **Nursing Communications:** This class teaches nursing students effective
  communication and collaboration skills. This is one of the most important
  nursing classes for forensic nurses, as they will be collaborating with a
  multidisciplinary team and working with highly sensitive information.
- **Mental Health Nursing:** This class teaches nursing students about mental
  health conditions and their treatment, as well as communication skills for
  caring for this population. Forensic nurses are often employed in psychiatric
  facilities, so this class equips them with essential knowledge and
  interpersonal skills.

---

## Gain Real-World Experience in Clinicals

All nursing students must gain real-world experience through clinicals, also
called clinical rotations. Clinicals are the portion of nursing education that
accompanies the in-class component and is where students get to apply their
knowledge. Nursing students get to shadow and assist current RNs working in
real-world healthcare environments.

![BSN Program Degree Post 2](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BSn-Program-Degree-Post-2.jpg)

Certain nursing classes will have their own clinical rotation. For example, when
learning about pediatric nursing, students will have a set amount of practice
hours within clinical rotations in pediatric settings, like a pediatric hospital
or doctor’s office. Nursing students are graded on their performance and skills
in their clinical rotations and have a set of core competencies they must pass.

**As you prepare to become a forensic nurse, pay extra attention to these nursing clinical sites:**

- Emergency Room
- Psychiatric unit
- Behavioral health center
- Medical-surgical unit
- Pediatric hospital
- Public health department

---

## Graduate from a BSN or ADN Nursing Program

Earning your nursing degree is a vital step on your journey to becoming a
forensic nurse. Whether you chose an ADN or BSN program, graduating is one of
the major milestones to becoming a registered nurse. A nursing degree is not
just about a title – it’s about the years you’ve spent studying, and practicing
nursing in a variety of clinical settings, that will qualify you to become a
registered nurse.

## Apply for RN Licensure, Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

Now that you’ve completed your nursing education, the next step is to apply for
RN licensure. This is handled through the Board of Nursing for the state in
which you want to work as a nurse. When you apply for RN licensure, the Board of
Nursing will conduct a background check. Pending background check results,
you’ll receive a date and time to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

The NCLEX-RN exam is the test each nursing student must pass before officially
becoming an RN. This is the test that qualifies you to practice legally, and
safely, in the United States.

Once you’ve passed, you can begin working as an RN! In the first few years of
your career, it’s recommended to start gaining clinical experience in a general
specialty, such as medical-surgical nursing in the hospital. Taking this step
allows you to learn a broad range of nursing skills you will need for your
future forensic nursing career. You might also consider working in the intensive
care unit (ICU), emergency room (ER), critical care unit (CCU), progressive care
unit (PCU), behavioral health center, or trauma center.

## Apply for Forensic Nursing Jobs

After you have a few years of nursing experience under your belt, you’re ready
to begin searching for and applying for forensic nursing jobs. Networking is a
great way to start this process – you’ll not only hear about jobs, but you’ll
build valuable connections as well. Try talking to your nursing manager, the
emergency room director, the flight nurses, and fellow ER nurses. Also, consider
introducing yourself to nurses that are currently practicing as forensic nurses
and find out how they got started.

One question you may have as you contemplate becoming a forensic nurse is how to
actually find the jobs. Like with other nursing jobs, you’ll utilize specialized
job boards. Try checking for job openings in these places:

- Law enforcement offices
- Forensic science centers
- Corrections institutions
- Crisis centers

When you’re ready to apply for forensic nursing jobs, you’ll need solid nursing
experience, stellar communication skills, critical thinking skills, and a strong
nursing resume. Make sure you emphasize your communication skills, attention to
detail, and interpersonal skills on your resume, as these are important skills
in forensic nursing.

## Obtain a Forensic Nursing Certification

Although it’s not always mandatory to become certified in forensic nursing to
become a forensic nurse, it can help you as you apply for forensic nursing jobs.
Nursing certifications set you apart from your nursing peers, showing that you
have a higher than standard education and expertise in that nursing specialty.

The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) offers two forensic
nursing certifications – one for adult nursing and one for pediatric nursing. To
be eligible to obtain these certifications, you’ll need at least two years of RN
experience, 40 hours of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) classroom training,
and 40 hours of SANE clinical training. If you meet all of the eligibility
criteria, you can apply to take the proctored exam.

**Categories:** Nursing Careers