One thing that’s certain, and that’s law enforcement can’t rest on its laurels. It must constantly strive to be one step ahead of the criminal. This has lead to a field that was virtually unheard of barely a generation ago, forensic nursing, and accredited nursing schools are rising to meet this growing need.

The forensic nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) who cares for the living. Primarily made up of women, they must examine some of the worst of what one can human can do another, yet maintain a steely calm for evidence that will help the police corner the perpetrator. Other responsibilities could include assisting the medical examiner in autopsies or being called upon by courts to testify regarding collected evidence.

Because of the nature of their field, they work as often for a law enforcement agency as they could work for a hospital or clinic. Some forensic nurses find positions with non-profit organizations that offer affordable medical care for victims of crimes. A few also work for lawyers, particularly in case preparation. Some also teach the specialty.

What’s interesting is the profession is so new there really isn’t too much accurate data on the field. As it is, the Bureau can provide some very logical appraisals about the profession’s future.

For starters, the demand for forensic nurses is exceedingly higher than the national average. The Bureau states the need for the forensics field in general is 31% over the next decade, and believes the need for these kinds of specialized nurses is about the same. The key drawback of this demand is the greatest need for nurses is in high crime areas. For the record, the Bureau estimates the growth rate for all occupations is approximately 10% to 12%. They also say that being the average wage of a RN is in the mid-to-high 50’s, the salary of a forensic nurse is pretty much the same.

For all who want to become a forensic nurse, the schooling process starts off in much the same manner as an RN. A high school student first matriculates into a good grants, online or brick and mortal. From there, the objective is to walk out with a four year degree in nursing, period. The nurse now must do the time to prepare for getting her RN certification. This takes another one to two years.

It’s in the post-grad work where things start to differ. Forensic nurses also must take courses in criminal justice, law and forensic science. As they are usually already in the workforce after getting their BS, this is a particularly critical time for students to enroll in an online program, so they can balance work and classes at the same time.

Still, after all this education gained at nursing schools, forensic nursing has a number of positives. Besides the wages and benefits, it’s sitting on the cutting edge of both law enforcement and the latest medical findings. It’s also a field that’s still evolving, which means people working in it could end up contributing to its development. Not surprisingly, many online college grant for online college education programs exist to help those wishing to enter this and other RN fields.