Continuing Education, Certificates, Degrees, oh my!
The route you take in forensic nursing will be determined by two things: where you are in your life in your general nursing training, and how much training you want to get.
Just getting started?
If you're just getting started in the nursing field, the getting into forensic nursing will, in fact, be easier for you. You'll be able to custom-tailor your bachelor of science in nursing classes to accommodate more electives in forensic nursing, and graduate with either an emphasis, specialization or certificate in forensic nursing (depending on what your school calls it). Understand that this specialization in forensic nursing might come at the expense of expertise in other nursing disciplines -- after all, you only have so much time in a two-year or four-year program. But if you're sure that forensic nursing is what you want to do, then it's the best way to go about it. It's a safe gamble these days because forensic nursing is no longer that niche specialty that might leave you in the cold. There are enough forensic nursing jobs out there demanding expertise in forensic nursing that you will almost certainly find something that pays the bills doing what you love.
Already a nurse?
If you're already a nurse, then specialization in forensic nursing happens other ways. Many schools offer continuing education courses in forensic nursing that you can take in the evenings, on Saturdays or online. Not only do they keep your skills sharp, they let you get into the forensic nursing field at whatever pace is comfortable to you, and to whatever degree you're interested in. A single forensic nursing course here and there might bone up your skills in forensic nursing. Take four courses in a series, for example, and you can claim a certificate in forensic nursing suitable for reference on your resume in job-hunting.
