Community Health Nursing in Forensic Care

Forensic nursing experts provide forensic services that include promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services within forensic science and clinical practice. However, in Kenya there are very few forensic nurses because the cadre is not well established both in education and practice environment. On the other hand, community needs for forensic care continue to rise, resulting in increased demand for nurses with other specialties to step in and fill the gap. While efforts are underway to lobby for the establishment of forensic nursing as a fully-fledged cadre in Kenya, there is need to utilize existing nursing professionals to give basic forensic care. The chapter proposes the utilization of community health nurses to support the few forensic specialties as they are the key frontline providers of healthcare in primary health care. Competencies within which the community health nurse can support forensic care are discussed.