Forensic Nursing: Death Investigation

1. Forensic Nursing:Death Investigation Lauren Palazzo College of Nursing Senior Project Faculty Sponsor: Ginette G. Ferszt PhD, RN, CS, FT Associate Professor/Director, Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Program

2. What is Forensic Nursing? • Forensic Nursing focuses on issues pertaining to the law and legal system. • International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN, 1999)

3. Objectives • Defined forensic nursing. • Differentiated between forensic science and forensic nursing. • Discussed how the role of the law enforcement official who is the death investigator differed from the role of the FNDI. • Briefly defined the previous mentioned specialty roles in forensic nursing. • Explained how an FNDI can determine the difference between a death by suicide and homicide in applying learned skills and assessments as a nurse in combination with those skills specialized in forensics.

4. Definition • IAFN • Virginia Lynch RN, MS

5. Forensic Science vs. Forensic Nursing • Forensic Science is defined as “any evidence found on a crime scene or science used for the purposes of law: in criminal law and in court of law investigations.” (What is forensics?, 2003, para. 2). • Forensic nursing differs from forensic science by incorporating both the assessment and treatment of victims and perpetrators involved in the investigated activity.

6. Forensic Forensic Science Nursing

7. Law Enforcement Official vs. FNDI • Criminal Investigation • Medical Investigation

8. Specialties • SANE • FNDI

9. Suicide vs. Homicide • Suicide • Manners • Strangulation • Presenting Injuries • Homicide • Types of Homicide • Presenting Injuries • Signs of Death

10. Why Forensic Nursing IS Important • The FNDI’s past nursing knowledge allows her to interpret medical records that could only aid the pathologist. • Quote • Core tasks of nursing.