ENA Takes Helm of Forensic Nursing, Uniting Two Key Specialties

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – March 09, 2026 – In a landmark move for specialized nursing, the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) has officially assumed stewardship of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), integrating its membership, educational programs, and practice resources. The formal program transfer, announced today, aims to secure the long-term vitality of forensic nursing by placing its legacy within the robust framework of one of the nation's largest nursing organizations.

This strategic consolidation unites two deeply interconnected fields. Forensic nurses, who provide specialized care to survivors of violence and trauma, often practice at the critical intersection of healthcare and the legal system, frequently beginning their work in the emergency department. The agreement brings the IAFN’s community and resources under the umbrella of the ENA, an organization representing 40,000 emergency nurses worldwide, creating a unified front for advancing patient care and professional development.

A Strategic Consolidation for a Vital Specialty

The decision follows a comprehensive evaluation by IAFN's leadership, which sought a partner organization that shared its core values and possessed the capacity to sustain and grow the forensic nursing specialty. ENA, with its 56-year history and extensive infrastructure, emerged as the ideal choice.

Under the terms of the agreement, IAFN has transferred all rights, title, and interest in the assets that form the foundation of its professional community. This includes not only its membership base but also its entire catalog of intellectual property. ENA will now own IAFN's complete educational portfolio, encompassing all courses, webinars, workshops, white papers, and copyrighted materials developed over three decades. This ensures that the specialized knowledge base cultivated by IAFN will continue to be accessible and impactful.

The transfer is not a full corporate merger but a strategic assumption of programs and assets. IAFN, a 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 1992, grew from 72 nurses to a global community of over 6,000 members. By integrating these members and resources, ENA is poised to become the definitive home for forensic nursing.

"ENA takes great pride in this historic opportunity to lead forensic nursing's future in ways that preserve the mission IAFN has pursued for three decades," said ENA Interim Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Bridget Walsh. "It is a tremendous privilege and responsibility to carry on IAFN's legacy, and we will do so by welcoming IAFN members into our community and establishing ENA as the new home for forensic nurses and the vital resources they rely on."

Enhancing Trauma-Informed Care for Vulnerable Patients

At the heart of this transition is a shared commitment to improving care for some of the most vulnerable patient populations. Forensic nurses are essential in providing compassionate, trauma-informed care to survivors of violence, abuse, and neglect, while also meticulously collecting evidence for potential legal proceedings. This work is inextricably linked to the emergency department, the first point of contact for many survivors.

By bringing these two specialties closer together within a single organization, leaders from both associations anticipate a strengthening of the care continuum. The move is expected to foster deeper collaboration, promote the widespread adoption of best practices, and enhance the quality of trauma-informed care delivered in emergency settings across the country. This aligns with long-held positions from both organizations, which have previously attested to the best practice of involving trained forensic nurses in the care of trauma and violence victims.

"My nursing career began in the emergency department, and it continues to be a place where I practice as an APRN and a forensic nurse," said IAFN Board President Karin Wickwire, DNP, CRNP, SANE-A, SANE-P. "This experience helps me understand both the diversity of settings in which forensic nurses work and the strong connection our specialty has to emergency care. Those shared values are deeply aligned with ENA's, and I am confident this program transfer will preserve the core of forensic nursing, strengthen our profession and ensure patients continue to receive the trauma informed care they deserve."

New Horizons for Forensic Nursing Professionals

For the thousands of forensic nurses transitioning from IAFN, this move opens the door to an expanded world of professional resources and opportunities. Former IAFN members will become full members of the ENA, gaining access to its extensive suite of benefits.

These benefits include a subscription to the peer-reviewed Journal of Emergency Nursing, access to over 150 practice resources and toolkits, and significant networking opportunities through ENA Connect, the association’s online community, and local state councils. Professionally, members can tap into a robust career center and apply for educational and research funding through the ENA Foundation. Furthermore, the preservation of IAFN's educational catalog, which includes training for critical certifications like the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE-A and SANE-P), ensures that the pathway for entering and advancing in the field remains strong and is now supported by ENA's broader educational platform.

IAFN CEO Jennifer Pierce-Weeks framed the decision as the result of a deliberate, values-driven process. "After decades in forensic nursing and as a leader in IAFN, I understand deeply what it means to have a true community of practice – one that safeguards the ethical core of nursing while giving the specialty the platform it needs to grow," she stated. "Finding that community in ENA was not accidental, it was the result of intentional, values-driven work and our history of successful partnership."

An Evolution of a Long-Standing Partnership

The formal transfer is being described not as a beginning, but as the natural evolution of a long and collaborative relationship. The missions of ENA and IAFN have long been complementary, with both organizations dedicated to supporting nurses who care for patients in their most difficult moments. This shared purpose has led to numerous collaborations over the years.

As recently as June 2025, the two organizations produced a joint podcast episode featuring their respective presidents to discuss the essential and evolving relationship between their specialties and their shared advocacy efforts. This history of working together laid the groundwork for the current integration, building a foundation of trust and mutual respect.

ENA leaders have emphasized their commitment to a seamless transfer that honors the unique identity and expertise of the forensic nursing community. The goal is to integrate, not erase, the legacy that IAFN built over 30 years.

"Emergency nurses and forensic nurses are united by the same core calling – to provide skilled, compassionate care to people on their darkest day," said ENA President Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC. "Bringing these specialties together within the ENA community will strengthen our shared practice, deepen collaboration and, ultimately, improve the care we deliver to every patient in the emergency department."

With this historic move, the future of forensic nursing is now intrinsically linked with the broader emergency nursing community, creating a powerful alliance dedicated to advancing both specialized practice and patient advocacy.