This year, the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) celebrates its 30th anniversary as a professional nursing organization. In some respects, IAFN is still a new entity, and yet, the last 30 years have seen incredible growth in the forensic nursing specialty and in the IAFN itself. The International Association of Forensic Nurses, as we know it today, represents the collective hopes and aspirations of the founding members in 1992, past presidents, boards of directors, executive directors, the chief executive officer (CEO), committee leaders, and association members who have contributed to the ongoing growth and evolution of forensic nursing. Anniversaries allow us to reflect on our history, celebrate our achievements to date, explore where our efforts come up short, and welcome the inherent uncertainties of what is yet to come.
We asked leaders from IAFN, including the CEO and Board President, Editor in Chief of the Journal of Forensic Nursing (JFN), and representatives of the IAFN Foundation to reflect on the past and look into the future of forensic nursing and IAFN. Their responses were compelling, and although we cannot include all of their answers, we have selected a variety of responses that illustrate the amazing progress we have seen over the last 30 years and these leaders' hopes for the future.
What Do You Think Have Been the Most Important Advancements in Forensic Nursing Over the Past 30 Years?
Jen Pierce-Weeks, CEO: The most important advancements in forensic nursing this past 30 years are the recognition of the specialty by the American Nurses Association and the development of the Scope and Standards of Forensic Nursing Practice. These efforts not only acknowledges the forensic nursing role, but they defines and directs forensic nursing practice regardless of setting or patient population served.
Cindy Peternelj-Taylor, JFN Editor in Chief: We have seen a tremendous amount of growth in the research and scholarship of forensic nursing. High-quality work has the potential to inform both practice and policy, and we have seen some incredibly important contributions related to improving care at the intersection of health and the legal system.
Kimberly Kasper, Director-at-Large of the IAFN Foundation: I think the most important advancement has been the increase in educational opportunities. There are multiple universities and colleges that offer degrees in forensic graduate education. Preparing advanced practice forensic nurses is critical to providing an evidence-based practice response to patient care utilizing current research.
How Has Forensic Nursing Changed Over the Last 30 Years?
Khara Breeden, Board President: Ten years ago, when I entered this field, forensic nurses were not always viewed as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. Today, the experience is much different, as we are often consulted for advice and guidance from both medical and legal professionals and other community partners.
K.K.: Forensic nursing has seen so many significant changes over the last 30 years including advances in laboratory sciences, the approach to patients, an increase in research, and interdisciplinary partnerships across healthcare, law enforcement, and the legal system. One of the most important advancements has been the increased opportunities for advanced education, which is critical to providing an evidence-based practice response to patient care utilizing current research.
What Do You Think Are the Most Pressing Issues Facing Forensic Nursing Today? And for the Next 30 Years?
J.P.W.: Forensic nurses are uniquely positioned to intervene, treat, educate, and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and intervention efforts on persons of all ages affected by violence, minimizing the health consequences and reducing the healthcare costs. To accomplish this, we must prioritize researching those connections and the effectiveness of the unique approach to care that forensic nurses provide.
K.B.: I feel that the many challenges experienced by the American healthcare system will continue to complicate access to competent and timely forensic nursing care. I look forward to the advancement of community-based programs and other creative solutions that can help to expand access to services over the next several years.
C.P.T.: Roe vs. Wade being overturned in the United States, and the impact of healthcare for girls and women is significant. The implication of this decision for diverse populations is also worrisome. How research and practice can explicitly address health inequity related to race, gender, disability, and concerns of the LGBTQIA+ community is a pressing issue today and in the future.
K.K.: I believe access to a forensic nurse is and will continue to be one of the most important issues in forensic nursing today. Healthcare [systems] must recognize that violence of all kinds impacts health, and the health sequelae of violence is far reaching across the lifespan.
What Have Been the Most Important Accomplishments of IAFN to Date?
J.P.W.: Some of the most important accomplishments include securing recognition of the specialty by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Congress of Nursing Practice in 1995; publishing the first edition of the Scope and Standards of Forensic Nursing Practice in 1997; creating and publishing the Association's scientific journal, the Journal of Forensic Nursing, launched in 2005; developing and publishing the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Education Guidelines; and development of the SANE-A and SANE-P Board Certifications.
C.P.T.: JFN is the only international journal focused specifically on forensic nursing and is an important contributor to the development of knowledge and evidence-based practice for the specialty. We've seen our influence expand with increased readership and receiving an impact factor (IF) for the journal in 2016, a critical metric of the journal's contribution. Since 2016, the IF has consistently increased.
What Are the Priorities of Moving Forward?
J.P.W.: As IAFN looks toward the future, our priorities include increasing our research footprint-offering research grants to forensic nurses and partnering with research organizations to improve the evidence base for the field. We also want to expand our global reach through collaboration and education outside of North America and improve our efforts to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion so that forensic nurses can prioritize reducing the health disparities and inequities faced by our patient populations.
K.B.: The priorities of the IAFN Board have always included the continued growth of the organization and expansion of forensic nursing services on an international level.
C.P.T.: JFN has several goals for the next 5 years, including more clinically focused content to better showcase the incredible work being done by forensic nurses globally, and more diversity in authors, reviewers, and editorial board members. We want to pay special attention to authors and articles explicitly addressing health inequity and action-oriented scholarship in forensic nursing that is focused on creating lasting change for individuals, families, and communities.
Closing Thoughts
As we commemorate this significant milestone in the history of IAFN, we do so knowing that none of us really know what the future holds for forensic nursing. What is clear, however, is that IAFN is a dynamic and responsive organization that meets the needs of forensic nurses globally and is well positioned to help lead our continuing evolution as specialty. Happy 30th Anniversary, IAFN. Cheers!