Being a nurse in the emergency department (ED) unfortunately involves treating patients who have been victims of crimes. Caring for these patients can be difficult, but if you had the chance to help the authorities catch the perpetrator of the crime, would you?

A new program led by William S. Smock, MS, MD, professor of emergency medicine at University Hospital and Louisville Metro Police surgeon in Louisville, KY, is teaching nurses how to collect forensic evidence in medical situations. The program involves 400 hours of training, including ride-alongs with police, visits to crime scenes, and shifts with the state’s medical examiner’s office. Participants also take classes, examinations, and create a research project. Right now, the program is small: four out of eight nurses who began training in September 2008 have received certification.

“[The ED] is an ideal place to provide a high level of care, but make sure evidence is preserved, injuries are recognized, and evidence is documented,” says Smock in a recent HealthLeaders article. Smock says forensic nurses are involved in a wide range of cases, including domestic assault, elder abuse and neglect, traffic incidents, and shootings.

To read more about the program, click here.