Her Majesty’s coroners and Home Office forensic pathologists perception of the nurses’ role in the coroner’s enquiry

A study was performed to elicit the perceived role of the registered nurse in the coroner’s enquiry from Her Majesty’s coroners and Home Office forensic pathologists viewpoint. A qualitative small sample study of unstructured interviews was performed followed by a quantitative and qualitative survey of all 134 coroners and 44 forensic pathologists practising in England and Wales. 72 (53.5%) coroners and 26 (59.1%) forensic pathologists finally participated in the study of which 51% perceived that there was a role for the nurse in the coroner’s enquiry. Roles identified included: actual i.e. keeping records, being conversant with nursing policies and “knowing” (“Knowing” means having knowledge about coroners’ enquiries); potential i.e. resource provider, communicator, supporter, presencing, evidence giver and stewardship; and future i.e. certifying the fact of death and being an expert witness. Possible action by the registered nurse to embrace the outcome of this study is put forward.