My Dream Job
What do I want to be?
I want to be a forensic nurse, which is a specialized nurse that treats and works with victims of crimes to gather medical evidence and provide testimony in court.
How much do Forensic Nurses make?
Forensic Nurses generally make $25.00-$40.59 per hour
What education would I pursue to become a forensic nurse?
I would get my nursing degree and RN license after 4 years at a nursing school, and then move on to get my masters degree in forensic nursing. After that, I would maybe pursue getting other certifications in areas such as death investigation or assault/trauma.
Where would I like to work?
I would like to work in a coroner/medical examiner's office in Michigan, preferably in Livingston or Wayne county.
What specific duties would I have to perform when working at a medical examiner's office?
As a forensic nurse working in a medical examiner's office, I would have to:
-
Assist coroner/medical examiner in determining the cause of death in an individual
-
Sometimes may assist police at a crime scene
-
Collect and document physical and biological evidence at a crime scene
-
Document and investigate the body of any injuries
-
Testify in court as an expert witness
-
Pronounce deaths
What do I need to do in order to get a job in a medical examiner's office?
To ensure that I can work in the medical examiner's office as a forensic nurse, I would have to meet the general education requirements for a forensic nurse (as listed above). I would also have to gain a years worth of experience working in either the ER or ICU. Another highly recommended step is to get certified through the AMBDI (American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators), but this is not required.
