Forensic Nursing Course Descriptions

FN360: Forensic Physical Assessment and Evidence Collection
This course provides an overview of the variety of career pathways available to the forensic nurse. The types of crimes with forensic nursing implications are presented, along with how to document injuries in a forensic report in written format, through forensic photography, and with body diagrams and worksheets. Students learn how to conduct a physical examination of a sexual assault victim and how to collect and handle various kinds of physical and biological evidence. Upon completion of this course, students will have a detailed understanding of how to assess and document physical injuries, how to collect and handle evidence, and how to preserve and document the chain of custody.
FN365: Forensic Psychological Assessment, Interview, and Report Writing
This course provides students with detailed knowledge of interview, assessment, and forensic report writing skills. Topics include verbal interview skills, nonverbal communication, and special techniques for interviewing children. Psychological status assessment is covered, including the mental status examination and the neurological assessment. Critical incident stress assessment skills and interventions and various types of group and individual counseling skills are discussed, including group skills to help in the workplace. Students learn the specific details to include in the forensic report. Upon completion of this course, students will have an understanding of the skills necessary for interviewing victims and witnesses of crimes and will build upon these skills by being able to perform an assessment of psychological status and provide basic psychological intervention.
FN385: Death Investigation
This course explores the intricacies of death investigation, including death certifying agencies, death notifications, and death scenes. Clues to estimate the time of death, including physical changes following death and factors that affect the rate of such changes, are covered. Specific scene and history details needed in an infant or child death are discussed. All manners and common causes of death are presented: natural, accidental, suicide, and homicide. Students learn the intricacies associated with conducting the scene investigation, differentiating manners of death, and handling cases of pending and undetermined deaths, with a focus on the special problems such cases may present for surviving loved ones. Upon completion of this course, students should have a full understanding of how to give a death notification to loved ones, how to conduct a death investigation, and how to conduct oneself at a homicide.
FN425: The Courtroom Experience
This course delivers an overview of the civil and criminal court systems. It provides an understanding of the criminal court system with detailed discussions on the role of the prosecution, the defense, the judge, and the jury. The role of the expert witness is covered, including how to dress for court and tips on testifying. Topics include pretrial discovery interviews, depositions, sentencing hearings, and post-conviction release hearings. The importance of a complete and current curriculum vitae (CV) is emphasized. Upon completion of this course, students will have an understanding of the civil and criminal court systems and will approach being an expert forensic witness with confidence. Students will understand expectations in the legal arena and will have prepared a complete CV to provide to attorneys for use in court.
FN427: Crisis Intervention and the Planning and Implementation of Follow-Up Care
This course provides a comprehensive knowledge of crisis intervention, planning, and implementation of follow-up care for victims and their families. It provides an overview of common social service agencies and resources, including shelters for women and children, crisis nurseries, sexual assault crisis workers, mental health crisis centers, and various types of specialized medical and psychiatric clinics. Students research local support and self-help groups for consultation with or referral to such groups. Upon completion of this course, students will have knowledge of the local resources available to provide comprehensive crisis intervention and complete follow-up care for any victim or person in crisis. Students are taught to foresee any lack of available resources and are provided with knowledge to initiate the development of needed local resources, such as a support group or women's shelter.