Refer a Patient

If you have a patient who would benefit from a medical forensic exam, you may refer them to DCFNE by:

• Advising them to go to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Emergency Department
• Calling the DC Victim Hotline at 844-4HELP-DC.

Additionally, you can view and access our 12 minute DCFNE Hospital Referral Webinar, which reviews the patient’s legal rights, overview of services, and instructions on how healthcare providers can refer and access services for their patients.

See our Frequently Asked Questions to help your patient prepare for the exam.

Clinical Trainings

About our trainings:

DCFNE hosts trainings multiple times a year on topics including: forensic photography, pelvic exams, core competencies and more! Visit our training and technical assistance page to learn more about our offerings.

Can't make it to DC? We can travel to you. Contact us to develop a training that is customized to your group's needs.

For upcoming trainings, see the training calendar.

Clinical Preceptorships:

Participating in Clinical Training/Preceptorship with DCFNE offers Registered Nurses an opportunity to understand the clinical work of a forensic nurse. Participants will be paired one-on-one with trained, DCFNE forensic nurses to observe clinical workflow and patient care. This opportunity is only for registered nurses who have completed the 40-hour didactic training.

Participants can expect to:

• Understand the elements of the Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK)
• Gain a basic understanding of forensic photography
• Recognize the opportunities to use the Alternate Light Source (ALS) and understand the benefits and limitations
• Learn basic forensic chart documentation
• Understand the role of the advocate during the exam

Become a Forensic Nurse

Forensic nurses are a critical component in a survivor-centered response to sexual and domestic assault. These nurses are uniquely suited to care for both the emotional and medical needs of a survivor during a moment of crisis, while also filling an important criminal justice role. By providing care in a supportive and empowering setting, forensic nurses are able to preserve physical evidence that allows the criminal justice system to seek offender accountability while ensuring that survivors are not retraumatized by the evidence collection process. They help survivors gain control after an assault by allowing them to make decisions throughout the entire process.

To receive updated information about our upcoming trainings, events, and job opportunities, please enter your email address below.

To learn more about becoming a forensic nurse, visit the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Partnership opportunities

DCFNE welcomes the opportunity to partner with other service providers working with a variety of patient populations. If you have an idea for a partnership, or would like to request a training for your staff, please contact us. We look forward to working together!