Forensic Nurse Examiners – Jan O’Connell the Nurse Practitioner candidate for (FNE) Victorian Model.

• FNE is a strategy that came about due to the difficulty in mainlining doctors and rosters to provide forensic examinations services especially in rural and remote Victoria.
• Sexual assault examiners were first established in Canada spreading to USA and the UK.
• NSW have trained nurses under the name of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE’s)
• There are 14 Victorian nurses in the strategy, mostly aimed at sexual assault examinations
• Australia wide to date: Vic 1, NSW 10 (completed training), ACT 1, and QLD 14.
• VIFM obtained funding for 1.5 million from Dept. Justice over 4 years 2006-2010 overseen by an advisory committee. Agreed to by the attorney generals department.
• This included 20 scholarships and to develop the framework.
• Will be integrated with FMO’s and designated to metro and rural area’s where there is an FMO shortage.
• VIFM controls the on call roster throughout Victoria.
• Survey was carried out of the Victorian FMO’s canvassing: number of cases they attended per year, if support was needed in their area, effects of call outs on work life balance. The majority of doctors supported the concept of the nurse initiative on the proviso that they shared the on call with a team approach and the appropriate training and support was provided. Most doctors agreed to provide this support.
• 460 forensic examinations carried out by VIFM per year.
• Nurses were offered scholarships for training in the areas of demonstrated shortfall.
• Nurses classed as advanced practice nurses that may work towards the Nurse Practitioner model in the future.
• Department of Justice, ANF, and VIFM are developing a collective agreement over the next 12 months.
• The nurses are employed by VIFM.
• Procedure manual completed by VIFM.
• 24hr back up available by VIFM medical staff via phone or if necessary will attend.
• All reports will be reviewed and co signed until the system is accepted.
• Provision of training and clinical preparations is via the Graduate Certificate Nursing (forensics) at Monash University with 2 face to face modules at the VIFM.
• This system will not be via a two-tiered i.e. the education for the nurses and doctors will be at the same standard.
• Prerequisites: RN div 1 minimum 4 yrs post grad and must have worked in a relevant field i.e. emergency or midwifery.
• Issues to be resolved: Visiting rights to hospitals, Prescription of medications for emergency contraception and hep B with the range of medication to be finalised.
• "Nurses will strengthen the skills and knowledge in the work force".