In this insightful episode, hosts Kalen and Karen go beyond signatures and forms, diving deep into the nuances, challenges, and ethical complexities of consent in forensic nursing. They are unpacking the essential principles every healthcare professional should know about the consent process through real-life experiences, terminology breakdowns, and a compelling listener question. Tune in to this episode for vital takeaways for both new and seasoned forensic nurses!

Key Episode Learnings:

• Uncover five key points about consent and why it is an ongoing, multifaceted process, not just a formality
• Discover how informed consent, assent, and capacity are central to ethical forensic nursing practice
• Capacity vs. Competency: Learn the crucial distinction between these terms within medical and legal contexts respectively
• Gain practical approaches for empowering patients, protecting their rights, and collaborating with families—especially when laws and personal wishes clash
• Explore decision-making and patient-first advocacy for vulnerable populations, including minors, the elderly, individuals under the influence, and others with impaired decision-making capacity

Registration for #IAFN2025 Omaha International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science & Practice is open! Learn more and register here before the pre- and post-workshop seats fill up: forensicnurses.org/2025conference

Episode Resources:

• Have a question or feedback for Kalen and Karen? Scroll down this page and submit your recorded question directly.

Enjoyed the show? Leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app!

Resources

• IAFN Online Learning Center (OLC): forensicnurses.org/page/OLCAccess/
• TeleSAFE Toolkit: Access this Step-by-Step Guide to a Trauma-Informed Program at forensicnurses.org/page/TeleSAFE/
• International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN): Learn more at forensicnurses.org
• IAFN Foundation: Support our work to spread forensic nursing at fundforensicnursing.org
• IAFN’s SAFEta Resources: Explore safeta.org
• National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA): Supporting tribal communities at supportingourcircle.org

Join the Conversation
Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Send us a voice message on our website at forensicnurses.org/podcast/ Let’s make this podcast a resource tailored to YOU!

Connect with Us

• Website: Forensic Nurses
• Instagram: @iafn_forensicnurses
• IAFN Membership
• Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter

Don’t Miss a Single Episode!

Stay tuned for more forensic nursing stories, expert insights, groundbreaking research, and discussions that go beyond the evidence. Subscribe to this podcast in your favorite podcast app to get notified of the new episodes and don’t miss a step on this journey!

In this special IAFN-Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) crossover episode, Kalen and Karen are joined by Ryan Oglesby, Board President of ENA, for a timely, insightful discussion about the essential—and evolving—relationship between forensic nurses and emergency nurses. From their personal stories to current joint organizational advocacy, this episode uncovers how working together improves patient outcomes, fosters holistic care, and creates a safer, more supportive work environment for healthcare professionals. Whether you are an ER nurse, forensic nurse, or just passionate about the future of trauma-informed patient care, this episode is packed with wisdom, clinical pearls, and resources.

Key Episode Learnings:

• Learn how forensic and emergency nursing roles synergize for better patient outcomes, supporting trauma-informed, holistic care in acute settings
• Understand the evolution of evidence collection in emergency departments: Hear why forensic nursing programs are crucial and how they were developed by ER nurses filling care gaps
• Discover myths and truths about forensic nursing careers: Can only ER nurses become forensic nurses?
• Explore strategies for addressing workplace violence and advocating for safer work environments
• Find out how collaboration leads to innovative care models and broader services for survivors of violence

Registration for #IAFN2025 Omaha International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science & Practice is open! Learn more and register here before the pre- and post-workshop seats fill up: forensicnurses.org/2025conference

Episode Resources:

• Use code ENAIAFN25 at checkout to get 15% OFF to join either IAFN or ENA (Offer ends June 30, 2025): forensicnurses.org/ena-iafn
• Emergency Nurses Association (ENA): ena.org

Resources

• IAFN Online Learning Center (OLC): forensicnurses.org/page/OLCAccess/
• TeleSAFE Toolkit: Access this Step-by-Step Guide to a Trauma-Informed Program at forensicnurses.org/page/TeleSAFE/
• International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN): Learn more at forensicnurses.org
• IAFN Foundation: Support our work to spread forensic nursing at fundforensicnursing.org
• IAFN’s SAFEta Resources: Explore safeta.org
• National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA): Supporting tribal communities at supportingourcircle.org

Join the Conversation
Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Send us a voice message on our website at forensicnurses.org/podcast/ Let’s make this podcast a resource tailored to YOU!

Connect with Us

• Website: Forensic Nurses
• Instagram: @iafn_forensicnurses
• IAFN Membership
• Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter

Don’t Miss a Single Episode!

Stay tuned for more forensic nursing stories, expert insights, groundbreaking research, and discussions that go beyond the evidence. Subscribe to this podcast in your favorite podcast app to get notified of the new episodes and don’t miss a step on this journey!

In this illuminating episode, hosts Kalen and Karen shine a spotlight on Alternate Light Source (ALS) technology—a very powerful tool in the forensic nurse’s toolkit for revealing hidden injuries, especially on darker skin tones.

Our expert guest, Dr. Katherine Scafide, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAAFS—a tenured Associate Professor (George Mason University) and renowned forensic nurse scientist, also known as “the paintball lady”—joins us to break down the science behind ALS, share actionable insights from her groundbreaking research and discuss the ethical implications, limitations, and future directions for ALS in both clinical practice and in the courtroom. Grab your goggles and let’s go beyond the visible!

• Learn how Alternate Light Source (ALS) technology improves the detection of hidden injuries, especially in people with darker skin tones
• Understand why light wavelength and intensity—not just fancy equipment—are critical for effective use in forensic nursing
• Discover best practices for documentation and how—and why—it’s vital to report findings as not definitive diagnoses
• Explore the ethical and legal considerations around ALS use and the importance of staying within your clinical scope
• Recognize the urgent research gaps and the opportunities for forensic nurses to drive innovation and improve future guidelines

• Detection of Inflicted Bruises by Alternate Light: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial (Scafide et al., 2020) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7383750/
• Improving the Forensic Documentation of Injuries Through Alternate Light: A Researcher-Practitioner Partnership (Scafide et al., 2023) https://learning.lww.com/ovidfiles/01263942-202303000-00005.pdf

Registration for #IAFN2025 Omaha International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science & Practice is open! Learn more and register here before the pre- and post- workshop seats fill up: forensicnurses.org/2025conference

Resources

• IAFN Online Learning Center (OLC): forensicnurses.org/page/OLCAccess/
• TeleSAFE Toolkit: Access this Step-by-Step Guide to a Trauma-Informed Program at forensicnurses.org/page/TeleSAFE/
• International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN): Learn more at forensicnurses.org
• IAFN Foundation: Support our work to spread forensic nursing at fundforensicnursing.org
• IAFN’s SAFEta Resources: Explore safeta.org
• National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA): Supporting tribal communities at supportingourcircle.org

Join the Conversation
Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Send us a voice message on our website at forensicnurses.org/podcast/ Let’s make this podcast a resource tailored to YOU!

Connect with Us

• Website: Forensic Nurses
• Instagram: @iafn_forensicnurses
• IAFN Membership
• Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter

Don’t Miss a Single Episode!

Stay tuned for more forensic nursing stories, expert insights, groundbreaking research, and discussions that go beyond the evidence. Subscribe to this podcast in your favorite podcast app to get notified of the new episodes and don’t miss a step on this journey!