Congratulations go to Dr. Irene Gacheri, Kenya's first forensic nursing PhD holder and a trailblazer in her field. With a career journey from certificate level to achieving a doctorate, she is determined to transform the perception and scope of nursing in Kenya and beyond.
Dr. Irene Gacheri also conducted a study on the training needs assessment for forensic nursing in Kenya, which revealed significant gaps in education and training despite the relevance of forensic nursing in various nursing settings across the country. The study uncovered that both nurses and lecturers lacked training in forensic nursing science. Identified training needs included evidence collection and documentation, forensic psychiatry, gender violence, legal implications, and theory and practice in forensic nursing. Despite these gaps, 98.3% of nurses in the study expressed a positive attitude towards forensic nursing, recognizing its crucial role in nursing care in Kenya. The study shows yet again the urgent need for implementing comprehensive training in forensic nursing to equip nurses with essential skills and integrate forensic nursing into the healthcare education curriculum not only in Kenya but across Africa.
Irene's pioneering work in forensic nursing, which combines healthcare and law to aid crime investigation, aligns with the critical discussions at the last #4FDNAS GBV session in Zambia. Many will recall that this session emphasized the urgent need to train nurses in clinical forensic medicine across Africa, highlighting the success of programs like the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) in the USA. Key training areas identified at the #4FDNAS include medico-legal law, ethics, traumatology, forensic medical documentation, and more. Dr. Gacheri's groundbreaking efforts highlight the importance of integrating forensic nursing into healthcare systems across our region. We wish her luck and hope to join forces with her soon!
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