Her research focuses on traumatic experiences, especially violence, mental health responses to trauma, and aspects of forensic nursing. Research outcomes are the identification of victims and potential victims so that services and resources to manage and avoid experiencing trauma and violence are received. She has received intramural funding at Boston College and external funding from Health Resource and Service Administration. She is certified as an Adult Advanced Practice Psychiatric nurse. Amar serves as Research Column Editor and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Forensic Nursing. She earned her BSN and her MSN from Louisiana State University and her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.