independent, undergraduate, physical assessment course or equivalent. • Have a current, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in their state of practice. • At least one (1) year of clinical experience as a practicing RN. • Submission of a School of Nursing Supplemental Application • Have a clean criminal background check and negative drug screen • Submit a 500 to 1,000 word, professional goal statement. The goal statement should focus on recent clinical experience, how a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing will enhance professional development and career goals after completion of the program. The goal statement will be evaluated on content and appropriate use of grammar, style, spelling, and rhetoric. • Two (2) recommendation letters (Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms). Letters must be from healthcare professionals (prefer letters from nurses in leadership/education) who can attest to applicant’s nursing skills and/or abilities. • Individual interview with School of Nursing faculty will be scheduled after all admission materials have been submitted. GRADUATE CERTIFCATE FORENSIC NURSING 26 NR New Graduate Certificate Forensic Nursing 2013 V3 B. COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN FORENSIC NURSING The GCFN program is 18-credits delivered within six courses over three consecutive semesters. See section E for the plan of study. The required courses are as follows: A. NRS XXX Foundations of Forensic Nursing Science B. NRS XXX Foundations of Clinical Forensic Nursing Assessment C. NRS XXX Forensic Nursing’s Role in Sexual Assault/Abuse D. NRS XXX Forensic Nursing’s Role in Intimate Partner Violence and Child/Elder Maltreatment E. NRS XXX Forensic Nursing’s Role in Disaster Management and Global/Societal Crimes F. NRS XXX Forensic Nurse Death Investigation C. OVERVIEW AND RATIONALE FOR REQUIRED COURSES All students will be required to take all (new) courses required for GCFN. The new courses were developed using the ANA and IAFN Scope and Standards of Practice as well as the educational guidelines developed for subspecialties in FN science (death investigation, sexual assault, etc.). This not only prepares the graduate for practice in the specialty of forensic nursing, it also helps graduates take the steps needed for FN certification. The overviews for each course are detailed below. See Appendix A for a draft of the course syllabi including course overviews, course objectives, and essential content. NRS XXX Foundations of Forensic Nursing Science This course concentrates on the scientific underpinnings fundamental to professional forensic nursing practice. The evolution of the role, education, credentialing, and subspecialties within forensic nursing will be examined. Trends and issues, as well as legal, ethical, and psychological considerations impacting forensic nursing practice will be explored. Course content will also focus on the role and function of the nurse and other members of the multidisciplinary, forensic, investigative, protective team. GRADUATE CERTIFCATE FORENSIC NURSING 27 NR New Graduate Certificate Forensic Nursing 2013 V3 NRS XXX Foundations of Clinical Forensic Nursing Assessment This course focuses on the clinical forensic nursing assessment performed when caring for patients who are victims or suspects of trauma and/or violence. Importance is placed on the comprehensive, general patient examination as well as the primary, secondary, and head-to-toe assessment of the trauma patient. Emphasis is placed on injury identification, injury causation, and the ability to differentiate between traumatic and non-traumatic clinical assessment findings. Students will be introduced to specialized data collection techniques and equipment specific to forensic nursing practice such as the Colposcope, medical forensic photography, and alternative light sources. Importance is placed on the collection of data as well as the thorough and accurate documentation of assessment findings. Instruction will further include appropriate developmental related assessment variations encountered throughout the lifespan. NRS XXX Forensic Nursing’s Role in Sexual Assault/Abuse This course meets the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) basic education guidelines for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Adult/Adolescent (SANEA). Students will learn how to conduct a comprehensive forensic nursing evaluation on adult and adolescent patients who have experienced or where there is a suspicion of sexual assault/abuse. Students will be educated on the dynamics of adult/adolescent sexual assault and receive training in the patient history, assessment, treatment, evidence collection and management, documentation, and legal testimony in cases of sexual assault/abuse. Students will learn to meet the needs of patients, families, communities, and systems as part of a multidisciplinary team while assuring that adult/adolescent patients experiencing sexual assault/abuse receive competent nursing care in the context of culture, age, sexuality, spirituality, and socioeconomic status. NRS XXX Forensic Nursing’s Role in Intimate Partner Violence and Child/Elder Maltreatment This course follows the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) Forensic Nurse Education Guidelines on Intimate