The paradigm for Forensic Nursing focuses on meeting the needs of victims and perpetrators of violent crime. The Forensic Nursing model applies clinical and scientific nursing knowledge to the delivery of care for survivors of traumatic injury, victims of violence, or death investigations. At any point where the delivery of patient care and the medicolegal system intersect, Forensic nurses have an integral area of nursing practice. Historically, a gap has existed between the office of the Medical Examiner, the Police Department and the hospital Emergency Room or hospitalized patient.
Forensic nurses can bridge that gap.
Forensic nurses help avoid the mishandling or omission of forensic evidence, perform critical functions in the recognition and correct collection of forensic evidence in all cases of violence, especially complex criminal cases. Forensic nurses are integral key professionals in preventive interventions related to victims of violence in our society. The certificate in Forensics is awarded at the graduate level upon completion of 14 credit hours. This specialty of nursing is concerned with assessing, planning and implementing health care and services to meet identified need of older individuals and evaluating the effectiveness of such care. This certificate program emphasizes the the collaborative nature of practice in a variety of health care settings.