Forensic nursing programs are becoming more common in universities, colleges and technical institutions, as this job continues to gain notoriety in the medical and legal worlds. By attending forensic nursing schools and becoming registered to work in this profession, students will be prepared to combine law enforcement and health care in order to treat crime victims and assist with investigations. Not only do forensic nurses help patients recover from violent crimes emotionally and physically, they also help assist in criminal cases and work to ensure the conviction of violent criminals.

Most forensic nursing programs require that students are first educated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and have passed the required examinations to become a registered nurse, which all typically takes about four years from start to finish. At this point, you can begin a two-year forensic nursing program, which will end with the awarding of a Master of Science in Nursing. The cost for this type of program varies depending on what type of school you attend and whether you attend school full time or part time.

Many forensic nurses go into the field of sexual assault nurse examination, which will require some additional training in order to work with rape and sexual abuse victims. It is necessary to be sure a nurse is psychologically prepared to take on this type of challenge in his or her profession. This extra training typically involves earning a SANE certificate (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner). With a SANE-A certificate you will be able to work with adolescents and adults, and with a SANE-P certificate you will be able to become a practicing pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner, which requires three years of experience as a nurse practitioner.

Forensic nursing schools can prepare registered nurses to take on this challenging and yet incredibly rewarding job. The job can be financially rewarding, with salaries for forensic nurse examiners starting at $26 per hour and often maxing out at as much as $100 per hour. The biggest reward, however, is the knowledge that you are helping the victims of some of the most heinous crimes to heal and recover.