Forensic nursing has been defined as:
“the application of the forensic aspects of health care combined with the biopsychosocial education of the registered nurse in the scientific investigation and treatment of trauma, and or death of victims and perpetrators of violence, criminal activity, and traumatic accidents within the clinical or community institution” (Lynch, 1991).
Violence is defined by the World Health Organization as:
“the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against a person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development or deprivation” (Krug et al., 2002). Violence is intended to encompass all acts of violence, trauma, crime, or disaster.
History of CFNA
The Canadian Forensic Nurses Association was formally organized in September 2006 when a group of forensic nurses from across Canada held a meeting in Vancouver, BC, when attending the International Association of Forensic Nurses Scientific Assembly. CFNA originated out of a desire by various groups of Canadian forensic nurses to network and address uniquely Canadian forensic nursing issues. Informal networks of forensic nurses began to appear in Canada in approximately the year 2000.