This week, please join MCASA in celebrating Forensic Nurses Week, held between November 6th and November 10th. Forensic Nurses Week is intended to honor the hard work, expertise, and dedication of Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs), who offer skilled, compassionate, trauma-informed care to victims of sexual assault and other trauma. They also play a crucial role in the criminal justice system by collecting forensic evidence during a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) and offering expert testimony in court about their findings. We thank all of the FNEs in Maryland for their incredible contribution to responding to sexual assault throughout the state.
The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) has developed a planning guide to celebrate this week with multiple activities you can participate in. Don’t forget to send a thank-you card or print a certificate of recognition for a forensic nurse to show how much you appreciate their dedication.
To help celebrate Forensic Nurses Week, we encourage everyone to reach out to the FNEs you work with to offer thanks, and raise awareness by wearing lilac, the official color of Forensic Nursing on November 10th. You can also buy Forensic Nursing gear and wear it on November 10th to show your appreciation.
Interested in connecting with other FNE’s? Join the IAFN’s online community.
To learn why Forensic Nurses are pertinent to your community check out SANE360, view the IAFN Foundation and Seedworks Film’s documentary “The Essence of Nursing: Forensic Nursing,” or watch these videos from the Office for Victims of Crime on the role of SAFE programs and their core values.
To find out more about Forensic Nursing and SAFE programs in Maryland, contact MCASA at [email protected] or call 301-328-7023, or review the resources on our website here.
