Introduction

Forensic science and forensic medicine are interdisciplinary fields that combine medical knowledge with legal expertise to investigate crimes, accidents, and other incidents requiring legal scrutiny. Integrating forensic science into BSc nursing education is a progressive step in India, where the healthcare system often intersects with legal challenges. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, are usually the first to encounter victims of violence, abuse, or accidents. By incorporating forensic science into their training, nurses can play a pivotal role in identifying, documenting, and preserving evidence, contributing to justice and improving patient outcomes (American Nurses Association, 2017).

Forensic Science in BSc Nursing: The Indian Scenario

In India, BSc nursing courses have traditionally emphasized clinical competence, patient care, and community health. However, the integration of forensic science as a specialized course or module is still in its infancy. A few nursing colleges and universities have started integrating forensic nursing as an elective or course, valuing its application in managing the increasing number of medico-legal cases (Burgess, 2016).

Forensic nursing includes several areas, such as:

1.Medico-legal documentation: Educating nurses todocument injuries correctly, collect evidence, andensure chain of custody (Burgess, 2016; NCRBR,2020).

2.Victimology: Educating nurses to provide sensitivecare to victims of violence, abuse, or trauma whilekeeping forensic evidence intact.

3 Death investigation: Educating nurses to assist in post-mortem examination and detect evidence of foul play.

4.Sexual assault examination: Educating nurses toperform forensic exams in sexual violence cases,meeting both medical and legal requirements(NCRBR, 2020; INC, 2021)

The Indian health system, saddled with heavy caseloads and meager resources, benefits greatly from integrating forensic science in nursing courses. Nurses with forensic training can link the health system and law enforcement agencies, ensuring justice is delivered while keeping patient care as the paramount concern (Burgess, 2016; NCRBR, 2020).