Florence to Forensics: The Evolution of Nursing Care

As we celebrate National Nurses Week in May, Kalen and Karen take us on a fascinating journey through nursing history. Did you know that foundational concepts like trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and environmental healing date as far back to Florence Nightingale in the 1800s? We explore how the pioneering nurses and their ideas laid groundwork for modern practice while contrasting them with forensic nursing's recent emergence—still in its relative infancy despite its critical importance in healthcare today.

Key Episode Learnings:

• Explore the inspiring story of Florence Nightingale and development of the "Environmental Theory" in patient healing and recovery
• Discover when the core concepts of modern nursing practice originated 
• Learn about the first registered male nurse and how army training affected nursing development as a profession
• Uncover the groundbreaking role of the first African American professionally trained nurse—and who may be the first ever African American forensic nurse (the answer may surprise you!)
• Dive into how the "mother of forensic nursing" pioneered the movement in the 1980s by creating the first graduate education program combining nursing and forensic science
• Learn when the first SANE programs got established and when violence was officially identified as a healthcare issue by the U.S. Surgeon General 

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 and early bird prices go up: forensicnurses.org/2025conference

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

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!

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

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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!