Forensic nurses work with law enforcement
officials at crime scenes to identify, collect and document evidence.
They examine and treat victims of accidents or crimes in a manner
sensitive to the patients' needs while also preserving and recording
evidence. Online certificate programs train nurses in the procedures and
science of forensic medicine.
Online Forensic Nursing Certificate Program Overview
Forensic nursing combines the medical knowledge and patient care aspects of nursing, the laboratory experience of medical laboratory technicians and the investigative and evidence-gathering skills of crime-scene specialists. Forensic nurses work with the police, paramedics, coroners, social service agencies and emergency medical services.Online graduate certificate programs in forensic nursing are primarily designed for practicing nurses with bachelor's degrees who wish to explore career options in forensic science.
Program Information
One focus of forensic nursing training is on the treatment of victims of accidents, trauma and disasters. This includes helping the victims' families, recognizing abuse and neglect, preserving forensic evidence and preparing for courtroom testimony. Other specialties within forensic nursing include nurse coroner, legal nurse consultant, correctional nursing specialist and sexual assault nurse examiner.Distance education forensic nursing certificate programs average 12-15 credits, and these program can be completed in 9-24 months. Classes are generally fully online, but some schools require occasional on-site attendance for classes or seminars. Some courses may have clinical components that require the student to attend on-site classes or make an arrangements with a nearby clinical facility.
Online courses require a computer with multimedia capabilities and a fast Internet connection. Students need basic computer competence in text processing, Web-searching and e-mail. Courses delivered online can include audio and video lectures, slide presentations, chat room interactions and online field trips.
Common Online Forensic Nursing Courses
Most of the coursework is fully online. For courses with clinical components, schools help students arrange clinical practice at sites near their homes; such sites can include acute care settings, protective investigation units, sexual assault examination teams or crime scene units. Courses include:Evidence Collection Course
The course covers evidence collection and preservation, the legal rules of crime scene processing and chain of custody law. Procedures common to police departments, social service agencies and courtrooms are also discussed.Courtroom Testimony Course
Students learn the various types of courtroom experiences for forensic nurses, including legal consultation, deposition and testimony. Some programs have students participate in a mock-trial courtroom experience, which may be held onsite, rather than online.Forensic Photography in Health Care Course
The use of photographs to bolster physical evidence is discussed, along with cameras, lenses and lighting. Included in the course are forensic procedures and techniques, like the inclusion of scale objects, establishing context with distant set-up shots, and maintenance of photographs' chain of custody.Emergency and Trauma Course
The medical objective to provide appropriate medical care to a victim must be balanced with the forensic objective of preserving evidence. Techniques to accomplish both with the least compromise are discussed. Also discussed are triage and care during disasters.Interpersonal Violence Course
Interpersonal violence includes sexual assault and battery, abuse and neglect, human trafficking, spousal abuse and religious abuse. Other topics include the forensic processing of bite marks, blunt trauma, sharp injuries and gun wounds.Career Information for Graduates
Forensic nurses require an active RN license to practice. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track separate data for forensic nurses, but states a projected job growth for all RNs to be 22% from 2008-2018 (www.bls.gov). The median annual salary for RNs in 2009 was $63,750.Most forensic nurses work for acute care medical facilities, law enforcement, legal services, social services, coroners and in nursing schools. Some are self-employed as independent consultants and expert witnesses.
No comments:
Post a Comment