Forensic Nursing (FN): Programs

[sirI]

There are educational programs that prepare the Registered Nurse (RN) as a forensic specialist. There are programs for the Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) as well as post-master's for other Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). And, there are programs for the Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) and paramedic. The APN and eligible RN can sit for Forensic nursing certification examinations.

While most educative programs vary regarding eligibility, most will require the RN to receive an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) education, successfully pass the NCLEX-RN, and possess a current, unencumbered RN license in the U.S. state of practice.

When considering a Forensic Nursing program one should note if they adhere to standards set forth by the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Note if they are approved/accredited by the individual Boards of Nursing (BON) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Also, Forensic Nursing post-graduate programs should be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The following are a few Forensic nursing educational programs and Forensic nursing certification examination entities (not all-inclusive).

University of California, Riverside

1 - The Professional Certificate in Forensic Nursing is an online certificate program for the LPN/LVN, RN, SANE-certified Nurse, and Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Program Topics (not all-inclusive)

• collection/preservation of evidence
• sexual assault examinations
• social/political implications
• chain-of-custody
• documentation
• photography
• court testimony preparation

2 - Those interested in death investigation will be interested in the Professional Certificate in Nurse Death Investigation. It is an online certificate program for the LPN/LVN and RN.

Program Contents (not all-inclusive)

• roles/responsibilities nurse death investigator
• collecting evidence
• preserving evidence
• confirming decedent's identity

Fitchburg State University

The Nursing (Forensic Nursing) Graduate Certificate is a forensic certificate program offered 100% online*.  This program is offered to the Master's-prepared Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) who has graduated from an accredited APN program and possesses a current, unencumbered APN license in his/her U.S. state of practice. (see website for complete eligibility information).

Program Contents (not all-inclusive)

• criminal law
• forensic science
• care of perpetrators
• practicum
• scientific investigation
• legal proceedings

*Note: Some courses have a clinical component.

SANE-SART Resource Service (SSRS)

The courses are offered online and interactive on-site for the RN and APN. Simulations are complemented by (hosted) webinars.

RNs and APNs are eligible to take the following Adult/Adolescent SANE / SAFE / SAMFE courses.

• Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
• Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE)
• Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiner (SAMFE)
• Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)

Program Contents (not all-inclusive)

• perform sexual assault medical-forensic exams
• investigate sexual assault cases
• act as an expert witness in a sexual assault trial
• identify, collect and preserve evidence

Duquesne University Forensic Nursing Certificate for Advanced Practice

The Online MSN in Forensic Nursing is 100% online.

Program Topics (not all-inclusive)

• broad-based forensic curriculum
• preparation for an advanced practice forensic role
• ethics
• criminal law
• preserve chain-of-evidence
• health care policy
• prepare for SANE certification

This certificate provides a prep course that includes the 40-hour training necessary to sit for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner certification exam.

Monmouth University

1 - Master of Science in Nursing: Forensic Nursing

This is a 100% online course. (view admission requirements)

Program Topics (not all-inclusive)

• child/elder abuse
• death investigation
• sexual assault examination
• domestic violence

2 - Forensic Nursing Graduate Certificate

Eligibility (not all-inclusive)

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); minimum 2.75 GPA
• Current New Jersey RN license
• One year RN experience
• Proof of a current $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 liability and malpractice policy

St. Louis University

The Medicolegal Death Investigators Training is a yearly, four- or five-day course for Nurses as well as other healthcare/legal/law personnel. 

Key Components (not all-inclusive)

• document decedent profile
• scene walk-through
• photography
• chain-of-custody
• witness interview
• body examination

Pennsylvania State University

The Undergraduate Certificate in Nursing Forensics is a 12-credit program of study, which may be earned as part of the RN to BSN program or as a stand-alone certificate for the RN who holds a current, unencumbered RN license in their U.S. state of practice.

Program Topics (not all-inclusive)

• evidence collection
• preservation of evidence
• documentation
• domestic violence
• assault
• stalking
• legal issues
• ethical issues

Texas A&M University

The Master of Science in Nursing-Forensic Nursing track is a 36-semester credit hour curriculum for the BSN-educated and licensed RN. The program is approved for delivery via asynchronous distance education technology with some required visits to Bryan, TX.

Program Courses (not all-inclusive)

• Forensic Sexual Assault Examiner Course
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Human Trafficking
• Forensic Photography

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)(Forensic Nursing Certification)

The Advanced Forensic Nursing Certification (AFN-BC) certification and credentials are available for renewal only. (see re-certification renewal requirements)

International Association of Forensic Nurses (Forensic Nursing Certification)

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Pediatric/Adolescent (SANE-A® or SANE-P®) certification examinations are offered twice a year in April and September.  Registered Nurses (RN) are eligible. These certifications are recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

SANE-A®Eligibility (not all-inclusive)

• Graduate from accredited Registered Nursing (RN) program
• Successfully pass the NCLEX-RN
• Current, unencumbered RN license in U.S. state of practice
• Minimum 2 years RN experience
• Completed accredited adult/adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 40 hours CE contact hours OR
• Completed accredited adult/adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 40 hours of academic coursework OR
• Completed combined, accredited adult/adolescent/pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 64 hours of CE/contacts hours OR
• Completed accredited adult/adolescent/pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 64 hours academic coursework AND
• Completed sexual assault nurse examiner clinical preceptorship AND
• Practiced as a sexual assault nurse examiner; minimum 300 hours within past 3 years

SANE-P® Eligibility (not all-inclusive)

• Graduate from accredited Registered Nursing (RN) program
• Successfully pass the NCLEX-RN
• Current, unencumbered RN license in U.S. state of practice
• Minimum 3 years RN experience
• Completed accredited pediatric/adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 40 hours CE/contact hours OR
• Completed accredited pediatric/adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 40 hours academic coursework OR
• Completed combined adult/adolescent/pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 64 hours CE/contacts hours OR
• Completed combined adult/adolescent/pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner program; minimum 64 hours academic coursework AND
• Completed sexual assault nurse examiner clinical preceptorship AND
• Practiced as sexual assault nurse examiner; minimum 300 hours within past 3 years

Resources

Forensic Nursing (FN)

Forensic Nursing: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner – Part 1

Forensic Nursing: Role of the Forensic Nurse – Part 2

[shoegalRN, RN]

brii09 said:

Okay that sounds alot like I want to do. Did you go to college before that? What did you major in? And one more question, how do you get paid; do you get paid casely, or hourly?

I went to college and got an Associate's Degree before getting my BSN.

I get paid about 3.50/hr when I'm on call. If I am called in, I get paid $32.00/hr, plus a $100.00 call in stipend.

I just got called in for my fourth case about 3 days ago, and I was there for about 5 hours. It took 2 hours to just interview the victim.

SANE is something I do on the side, I am a part-time ER nurse.

[brii09]

How often to you get called in? Do you deal with crime scenes or just the hospital setting?

[shoegalRN, RN]

brii09 said:

How often to you get called in? Do you deal with crime scenes or just the hospital setting?

Lately, I have been getting called in often (when I am on call) because it is getting warm outside, and there have been a few drug facilitated sexual assaults (due to drugging a drink in a social setting).

I only deal with the hospital setting. I do my own pelvic exams, collect evidence, and order x-rays, CT's or meds.

I work in the ER, and I make sure the pt has been medically clear before I start my exam. If they are, the docs usually let me have at it, as some of them don't like to deal with the details regarding the assault.

[RNforme12]

Hi- I'm really new to this site and can not figure out where to post my question on how to become a forensic nurse. I found your comment here, and figured this was a good place to start.

I am a second year student at a ADN program and will receive my RN this May if all goes well. I have a previous degree in Criminal Justice at Champlain College in Vermont (bachelors) and am trying to find a NLNAC accredited program that will award me a degree in forensic nursing using past credit that I received at Champlain.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[mstica90]

Hello there,

I'm asking you a question about the forensic nursing......

What is the difference between of a forensic nursing and a forensic nurse investigator?

Please get respond me as immediately, thank you. :)

[KC4NSICRN]

brii asked if shoegal goes to crime scenes.

While she responded that no, she does not, in reality, the crime scene actually comes to HER! Each victim of a crime is considered a crime scene where you would observe, document, collect evidence and photograph.

What you are doing is documenting a "picture" that will tell law enforcement exactly what that crime scene looked like, what you saw, what you collected, what you photographed. Especially in the case of a violent death, documentation is so important.

Not only will law enforcement and the justice system need to be able to picture in their minds what was right in front of you, but if you ever have to go to court on a case, wouldn't you want the documentation to be this good?

Now, let's take this one step further: let's say a patient dies of a violent act and comes to your ED, followed by the family. The grieving process tells us that it's important for the family to say goodbye,right? I agree, but you still have an evidentiary responsibility to perform. Short of wrapping crime scene tape around the body, you still need to balance letting the family say goodbye and protect that crime scene and not let the family disturb any evidence.

So, what worked for me was speaking gently and succinctly to the family PRIOR to them going into the room to view the body about how important it is to protect the evidence. I would not let the nurses "prepare the body for viewing" by washing the face. If there was blood there, I would tell the family, just as you would tell them that they would be seeing the endo tube, etc. I would try to find a clean hand for them to hols and cover the rest with a sheet. If the hands were bagged, I would tell them that, too and why.

I would station a security officer in the room if need be, also letting the family know that this is standard in cases like this. And I would go with them. I would not allow the family to uncover the patient, nor would I allow them to hang over the body: they may transfer some of their own evidence!

I hope this helps to give you something practical today that you can use tomorrow. Good luck!

~KC

[ANurseDivided]

I am just curious, does one really need to have a ER/Trauma background to work as a Forensics nurse? I was a CV ICU nurse for 9 years which I know is not the same but just wondering. I took the Kaplan's LNC program some years ago but never pursued starting my own business because it entails a lot of leg work and I guess that I was/am not very confident in myself to market myself.

I like the idea of a LNC moonlighting as a FN or vice-versa. I was just curious on how important it is to have the ER background. I'm 37 and not really sure if I want to move to the ED/Trauma (although I always wanted to work there) as I left the bedside approximately 7 months ago to work in an outpatient clinic.

I think that FN speaks to me as I LOVE psych (I acutally went to nursing school so that it would pay my way to go to med school to become a psychiatrist...what was I smoking?) and I love the "whodoneit" aspect of FN. I guess that I am just interested in exploring the legal side of healthcare hence the LNC.

Any advice would be most appreciative!!

Thanks to all :)

[Fina11yKym]

I would recommend ( if money and time allows) taking some criminal justice classes at a local college ( community or univeristy) I am actually in the midst of *hopefully* finishing my BS of Criminal Justice with a Forensics Cognate and my BS of Psychology with Christian counseling from Liberty University ( I started it before i was in LPN school. I figured I might as well finish it since I am highly intrested in Forensic Nursing and I love Psychology. There are some great books out there on Forensic Nursing- they are really cheap on Amazon- one is called forensic nursing and the new role in law enforcement ( I think its maybe 3.00 with shipping) There is alos a kindle only version that is really good as well =)

[jennieb79]

Can anyone recommend some good online colleges for forensic nursing master's programs? I would like to get more information about them. I currently have a BS in Criminology and will be going to get my BSN this summer.

Thanks!

[jennieb79]

This is all GREAT information! Thanks so much to everyone who contributes!

[cmgnurse]

Hello. I recently graduated in May and have been working as an RN since then. I am interested in forensic nursing but am unsure of the best way to go about it. I have been told you can just go online and get certification but I've also been told you need to have at least a BSN. I've also been told you should pursue a bachelors in criminal justice? I took a look at the university of california riverside website but they state you will not be certified. Am looking for any general information that anyone will have about the best and fastest way to go about getting into this area. Would appreciate input. Thank you

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

cmgnurse said:

Am looking for any general information that anyone will have about the best and fastest way to go about getting into this area. Would appreciate input. Thank you

I suggest contacting your local emergency departments to see if they have a SANE program or a forensics program. In many locations, SANE is co-located in the ED because that is where our patients typically present initially. Ask if there are any courses in the local area; some hospitals or forensics programs provide their own training in exchange for time spent on their call schedule. ?