Forensic Nurse Hospitalist: The Comprehensive Role of the Forensic Nurse in a Hospital Setting

Forensic nursing is an evolving specialty designed to address the unique, intersecting health and legal needs of patients who are victims, suspects, and perpetrators of trauma. The "Forensic Nurse Hospitalist" is proposed as a new term to describe the role of the nurse who is qualified by licensure and education as a specialist in forensic nursing and practices specifically in the hospital setting. The forensic nurse hospitalist can provide comprehensive, medicolegal care to patients receiving treatment for trauma-related injury and questionable death in the acute care setting. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need and importance of the forensic nurse hospitalist and describe the multifaceted responsibilities of the role as a transformational leader in health care today. It is vital that health care systems employ forensic nurse hospitalists to deliver expert patient care, offer specialized consultation and collaboration, and implement systemwide policy and educational initiatives to best meet the needs of patients who have experienced intentional or unintentional trauma.