Forensic professional's thoughts on New Zealand emergency nurse's forensic science knowledge and practice

Area of Science:

• Forensic Nursing
• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Education

Background:

• Clinical forensic nursing is a recognized global specialty, yet New Zealand lacks designated roles and adequate tertiary education.
• Emergency nurses in New Zealand are expected to perform forensic duties without specialized training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess adherence to forensic protocols by New Zealand emergency nurses.
• To identify areas where emergency nurses require tertiary training in forensic practice.
• To examine the relationship between emergency nurses and forensic professionals.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous online survey distributed to health professionals in forensic nursing roles.
• Data collection included Likert scale questions and free text commentary.
• Descriptive content analysis was performed on the collected data.

Main Results:

• Identified incorrect evidence collection and chain of custody errors by emergency nurses.
• Revealed a limited relationship between emergency nurses and forensic professionals.
• Demonstrated clear support for a postgraduate clinical forensic nursing program.

Conclusions:

• Emergency nurses in New Zealand demonstrate inadequate forensic science knowledge and practices.
• Additional professional development is essential for maintaining best practices in forensic emergency care.
• There is a need for enhanced collaboration and education to improve forensic emergency care standards.