Sexual homicides and interpersonal violence: Expanded forensic nurse examiner roles

2^nd International Conference on Forensic Research and Technology

October 07-09, 2013 Hampton Inn Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Kirsten O. Turkington

Posters: J Forensic Res

Abstract :

Forensic nurse examiners (FNEs) are clinical experts regarding ante-mortem sexual assault and interpersonal violence evidence collection. FNEs are uniquely qualified for expanded roles in sexual homicide evidence collection with postmortem sexual homicide victims. Victims for FNE evidence collection can be actual or suspected sexual homicides. True sexual homicides, however, are poorly defined, grossly underreported and closely linked to prior domestic and interpersonal violence scenarios. Current or prior sexual partners perpetuate many suspected sexual homicides. Current forensic literature demonstrates limited data with injury identification in sexual homicide victims. This limitation complicates forensic provider training, new program developments and limits advancements in forensic research. Additionally, lack of consistent sexual homicide data collection poses prosecution concerns both with domestic violence related identification of sexual homicides and evidence collection examinations. FNE skill development in post-mortem examination and evidence collection ability contributes to new clinical practice models for Forensic Nurse Examiners. This project investigates sexual homicide cases and discusses common genital injuries in existing research literature and suggests future projects for clinical research.

Biography :

Kirsten Turkington-McCue is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and credentialed Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner with over 19 years of clinical experience in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care and Family Practice. She is a DNP student at the Northern Arizona University with a Certificate in Forensic Nursing from The University of California, Riverside. She is in primary care clinical practice with an interest in interpersonal violence and sexual homicide related issues.