PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Forensic Nursing: Objective Victim Examination ∗ ∗This chapter is an update to material originally published in Jamerson (2009) and Turvey and Jamerson (2011).

Forensic Victimology, Page: 117-142
2023
  • 0
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 7
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

Book Chapter Description

Forensic nurses are a particular kind of forensic examiner who provide patient care in the context of evidence recognition, documentation, collection, and preservation efforts. They are consequently objective and scientific finders of fact, utilizing scientific principles and medical knowledge to discover evidence related to diseases, injuries, and crimes that may be suffered by all manner of victims. Their job is to perform a forensic medical examination of alleged victims, which includes initial contact, intake assessment, obtaining victim history, physical examination, evidence documentation and collection, and the interpretation of findings, including any related treatment. After obtaining the proper consents from the victim, the forensic nurse collects intake information from her or his patient to govern the nature and sequence of subsequent examination and treatment efforts. Conducting an accurate forensic medical examination in the absence of patient medical history is not possible. Throughout the entire forensic medical examination, forensic nurses must consider and treat the victim’s body as a physical extension of the crime scene. Interpretations by the forensic nurse should be grounded in an objective consideration of complete victim history, the results of the physical examination, and the consideration of differential diagnoses.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know