Beyond the Bedside: Nurses Who Step Into the Coroners’ Shoes (with Dr. Annette Cannon and Bobbi Jo O'Neal)

In this insightful episode, we dive into the critical role forensic nurses play in death investigations. Our expert guests, coroners Dr. Annette Cannon and Bobbi Jo O'Neal, share their unique experiences as elected coroners, highlighting the importance of humility, mentorship, and building trust in the field. We discuss the reality of working in medical-legal death investigations, debunking the "CSI effect," and emphasizing the skills that truly matter in the profession.

Whether you're a seasoned forensic nurse or just curious about this field, this conversation will provide expert insights into the critical role forensic nurses play in death investigations, how they bridge the gap between medicine and law, and why their work is essential in ensuring justice and supporting families. We also reflect on self-care, the healing impact forensic nurses can have on grieving families, mentorship, and the rewarding aspects of the profession.

Key Episode Learnings:

• Entering the Field of Forensic Nursing and Death Investigation: Learn how to take the first steps, from finding mentors to networking with key professionals in the system.
• The Reality of Death Investigations: Discover why the most “TV-worthy” cases aren’t always the most complex and why the real challenge lies in uncovering medical mysteries where the value of forensic nurses becomes evident.
• Building Trust in the System: Understand why humility and teachability are crucial when working with coroners, law enforcement, and forensic teams.
• Forensic Nurses at Crime Scenes: Learn how forensic nurses contribute to crime scene investigations, including evidence collection in sexual assault-related homicides.
• State Laws & Regulations: Find out how to research your state’s death investigation statutes using the CDC’s resources to understand your local system.
• The Emotional Side of Forensic Nursing: Gain insight into the emotional load of this work and how nurses can make a devastating moment just a little less painful for grieving families.
• Why This Work Matters: Hear firsthand how forensic nurses bring closure to families, ensure thorough investigations, and uphold the integrity of the legal system.

CDC’s Resources:

• Coroner and Medical Examiner Laws CDC’s Webpage: cdc.gov/phlp/php/coroner/index.html

IAFN 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

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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!

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