INTRODUCTION Forensic is a science of criminal investigation in order to provide evidence that is used in the solution of criminal cases.

It comes from the Latin forensic meaning of or before the forum. As trends in crime and violence change, new legislation is implemented as a means of antiviolence strategies. New resources are required to meet the needs of the society at war against crime. Thus, this requires multidisciplinary approach of issues. Innovative and expanded health care roles are responding to some issues that concern the healthcare team and society. This emerged to a more complex but flexible adaptation of roles and responsibilities. Since nurses can assume various functions in any healthcare setting, this brought the nurses a new challenge to conjoin patient care with the legal system to expand resources that is accessible to patients with liability related injuries, mentally disordered lawbreakers, victims and defendants. This is what they call forensic nursing. Forensic nursing is defined as the application of the nursing process to public or legal proceedings and the application of forensic health care in the scientific investigation of trauma and or death related to abuse, violence, criminal activity, liability and accidents. (Lynch, 2004) Moreover, it represents a new perspective and holistic approach to legal issues that allows nurse practitioners a wider role in the clinical investigation of crime and legal processes. In short, it addresses healthcare issues that have medicolegal component.

A forensic nurse is a registered nurse specifically trained to provide a comprehensive care in the medicolegal management of forensic patients. The forensic nurse examiner must demonstrate competency in the performance of forensic examination and ability to testify as an expert witness in a court of law to apprehend or prosecute perpetrators who commit violent and abusive acts. Furthermore, the forensic nurse provides care to the victims of violence, trauma and abuse such as sexual assault, interpersonal violence, neglect, or other forms of intentional and unintentional injury. However, the specialized role of forensic nurses goes far beyond medical care. They must have an advanced knowledge of the legal system and skills in injury identification, collection of evidences, evaluation and documentation. Although forensic nursing has been practiced by many countries today, this is not yet widely known in the Philippines because of the unavailability of forensic nursing education offered here. Nevertheless, some nurses also practice this function informally without them knowing. While these roles and responsibilities continue to expand, the need for nurses remains in demand to an expanded career roles. In summary, flexibility is a critical value in role development especially in the nursing profession. Likewise, the concept of this integrated seminar was made into realization with theme of Forensic Nursing, Bridging Laws and Health Care: Expanding Horizons in Nursing, hosted by 4th year Block CCC students.