Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) are registered nurses with specialized classroom and clinical training in the examination and treatment of trauma in victims or perpetrators of abuse, violence, criminal activity and traumatic accidents.

Our FNE team at Memorial Health System consists of specially trained nurses who work in a variety of nursing specialties at Memorial. Their classroom and clinical training for the FNE program includes:

• providing safe, compassionate, culturally competent care that incorporates the collection of evidence from patients who have been victims of violence, or those suspected of having committed a violent act;
• providing objective testimony regarding the impact of violence and abuse on health, and the standard of forensic health care. 

We provide 24-hour coverage for sexual abuse and assault cases. Patients typically evaluated by our team include victims of:

• sexual abuse and assault
• domestic violence
• child maltreatment
• physical assault
• trafficking
• elder abuse

Other patients evaluated by our team include suspects of:

• sexual assault
• other violent crime

In addition to medical/forensic care, the FNE team focuses on the physical and psychological needs of our patients. If a sexual assault or domestic violence victim is 16 or over, T.E.S.S.A., the local nonprofit dedicated to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, is contacted. A T.E.S.S.A. advocate comes to the hospital to offer emotional support and information to the victim before and after the exam. T.E.S.S.A. will also make sure the patient has a safe place to stay and will help with filing restraining orders and other documents if necessary. A T.E.S.S.A. advocate can also accompany the victim to court.

» More about: T.E.S.S.A. (www.tessacs.org)

Education contributes to prevention. To assist, we frequently offer community and professional education on the forensic aspects of health care and the prevention of violence and abuse to schools, law enforcement agencies and advocacy-based services.