The effect of a training intervention on nurses’ knowledge of forensic nursing practices

Introduction: Nurses working in emergency departments face scenarios that require both technical and ethical approaches, addressing the care of victims and perpetrators as well as the preservation of evidence, which necessitates specific training. Objective: To analyze the effect of a forensic nursing educational intervention on the knowledge of nurses working in an emergency department at a University Hospital Center in the Northern Region of Portugal regarding forensic nursing practices. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test single-group study with a quantitative approach was conducted, using a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 33 participants. The Forensic Nursing Practices Knowledge Questionnaire was used. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Following the educational intervention, nurses’ knowledge improved, with mean scores of 70.8±2.3 compared to 65.8±4.0 prior to the training. The differences were statistically significant (t=-7.630; p<0.001), with the subscale “Evidence Preservation” showing the greatest impact. Conclusion: The forensic nursing educational intervention was effective in enhancing nurses’ knowledge.