Forensic Nursing in Emergency Department: Forensic Evidence

Abstract

ENA (Emergency Nurses Association) believes that the emergency nurse's role is to provide physical and emotional care to patients and help preserve the evidence collected in the emergency department. Every day and in every emergency, trauma sufferers are cared for. A specific group of medical professionals dedicated to giving trauma and violence victims the best care possible includes the staff members of the trauma team. In addition to being requested to gather forensic evidence, the nurse is a crucial healthcare team member for these patients. There are two types of traumatic incidents: purposeful and accidental. Serious public health concerns include suicide, homicide, assaults, interpersonal violence, and physical, mental, and sexual abuse. The mechanism of injury is the transfer of external energy from the environment into the body. Automobile accidents, assaults, burns, suicidal thoughts, drowning, mass disasters, thermal blasts, and bioterrorism are the causes of these ailments. Victims of crime and violence who need assistance from legal and health services are known as forensic victims. During the first assessment and treatment phase, nurses can identify those individuals. Forensic victim arrives at the emergency room with evidence found on their person, clothing, and possessions, and they can help with the criminal investigation. The evidence is often omitted after trauma patients leave the emergency room. Before any swabs can be taken, the wound is frequently cleaned, irrigated, and sutured, which causes the evidence to be lost, contaminated, or destroyed. This loss of evidence may undermine the victims' right to justice. Identifying these individuals and gathering proof without sacrificing treatment that might save lives is critical. Healthcare professionals must learn about forensic victims to recognize and treat them appropriately.