Connecting the "Puzzle Pieces"

The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office has acquired its first forensic nurse.

Although forensic nursing was only designated as a nursing specialty by the American Nurses Association in 1995, it is a very old practice that has been around for centuries. In fact, although the motions of the job were very logical and routine, many people didn’t realize they were practicing this type of nursing.

Forensic nurses work in the medical/legal arena, with both living and deceased patients, and play many roles. There are sexual assault nurse examiners, who work with both adults and children. There are also clinical forensic nurses who work in a plethora of areas: domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, child sexual and/or physical abuse. If one of these patients has been seen by a forensic nurse, and is admitted to the hospital, the nurse will follow the patient through their entire hospital stay, making sure all needs are taken care of. Additionally, there are forensic psychiatric nurses who work in mental facilities, helping to evaluate suspects.

Then there is the role that Stacey Lasseter has played in Harris County since her arrival April 1 – that of a nurse death investigator. These nurses work in medical examiners’ offices and perform such duties as medical records searches, going out to crime scenes to help recover bodies and collect evidence, taking photographs, talking with police officers and families, and giving death notification.

"I had always had an interest in forensic science," Lasseter said. "As soon as I heard about forensic nursing, I thought, ‘Yes, this is it.’ It was a way to combine health care with forensic science."

"I was given Stacey’s name by Mrs. Virginia Lynch, who officially started the forensic nursing specialty in this country," said Harris County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Joye Carter.

Dr. Carter contacted Lasseter last fall while attending a medical examiner’s meeting in Richmond, Va., and after meeting, thought Lasseter would be an ideal member to add to the medical examiner’s investigative staff.

"I had always been interested in death investigations. When this opportunity came up, I met with Dr. Carter, and here I am," Lasseter said.

"She was quite impressive," Dr. Carter said. "We are lucky to have found another dedicated person to help serve the members of the community."

Lasseter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1990 from the Medical College of Virginia, and a master’s degree in 1995 from the University of Virginia. While working on her master’s, she learned more about the forensic nursing field, and started taking some applicable courses.

Prior to coming to Harris County, Lasseter was already a trained registered nurse, where she worked in both coronary intensive care unit and emergency room settings. It was in the ER that Lasseter was introduced to forensic nursing.

Nine years ago, Lasseter began her career as a forensic nurse, collecting evidence and conducting forensic evaluations on living victims of violence and the people suspected of committing these crimes. Out of concern for the victims, and with a forensic science interest, Lasseter co-founded the first forensic nursing team in the central Virginia area in 1993.

Lasseter has taught more than 500 nurses with an interest in forensic nursing, and has assisted with the development of forensic nursing programs along the East Coast, Louisiana and New York. While serving as an instructor for several police academies, she not only educated law enforcement, but the citizens in the community about forensic medicine. In addition to these forensic-related activities, Lasseter serves as a director at large on the board of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, has presided as the co-chair for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Council of the association and was president of its Virginia chapter.

As a national speaker, Lasseter has presented on issues surrounding forensic nursing and victims of violence. She has also published a chapter outlining evidence collection techniques and laboratory testing in "The Nursing Approach to the Child Maltreatment Evaluation."

Lasseter said she enjoys the challenge of evidence collection, helping to put "pieces of the puzzles" together, and making sure people get the resources they need.

"Forensic nursing is such a new and exciting field. It is really exciting to be a part of it," she said.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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