hate crimes were reported demonstrating an 8% increase from 2010 with the largest percentage of hate crimes being racial in nature (Michigan State Police, 2011). Reported Cases of Select Crimes in the State of Michigan by County (2011) County CSC- 1st degree CSC- 3rd degree Domestic Violence Murder Livingston 23 12 736 2 Oakland 222 80 8,492 33 Macomb 191 43 7,255 12 Genesee 194 23 4,974 59 Wayne 554 196 27,217 345 (Michigan State Police, 2011) In criminal situations such as those described above, the FN role is vital as it is the FN who collects, manages, and documents evidence that may be used later in a criminal case (Lynch & Duvall, 2011). The FN’s role becomes even more important in situations where there is no sign of physical injury to the victim. Despite the lack of obvious injury, other forms of “invisible” evidence may be present. The FN is educated on how to collect this evidence which could be crucial when attempting to prosecute a criminal case. FNs are in a unique position to address the needs of Michigan residents who have witnessed and/or experienced violence or trauma. However, in order to meet this need, FNs must be educated based on accepted national standards to ensure that quality, safe, nursing care is provided to this vulnerable patient population. Forensic nursing was recognized as a nursing specialty in 1995 by the American Nurses Association (ANA & IAFN, 2009). As a recently recognized nursing specialty, there is an acute need for academic nursing institutions to develop formal education programs related to forensic nursing in order to fulfill the specialty’s societal mandate, to enhance the professional GRADUATE CERTIFCATE FORENSIC NURSING 8 NR New Graduate Certificate Forensic Nursing 2013 V3 development of the specialty, and to help contribute to the well-being of victims of violence and/or trauma. At present, there are three ways for registered nurses (RNs) in the State of Michigan to become a FN. First, an RN may participate in a course that offers training limited to one subspecialty within forensic nursing practice, e.g. Sexual Assault Nurse Examination, Legal Nurse Consulting. While this approach to becoming an FN may allow an RN to receive continuing education units upon completion of the course, no academic credit is awarded. Second, an RN may receive “on-the-job” forensic training within the unit or department in which he/she works. This type of training is usually job-specific, thus preventing the FN from practicing in other subspecialties within forensic nursing. In addition, this type of training may not meet the educational standards set forth by the various regulating agencies (ANA, IAFN, US Department of Justice) that provide the framework for FN education and practice. As a result, the lack of formal FN education prevents the nurse from practicing within the full role and scope of forensic nursing, or from becoming certified as a FN. The final way for an RN in the State of Michigan to become a FN presently is via education in an out-of-state academic institution. RNs can receive FN education via a certificate program (postbaccalaureate, post-masters) or a graduate nursing program (MSN, DNP). Currently, there are no formal forensic nursing academic programs offered in the State of Michigan. As a result of the aforementioned deficits in FN education in the State of Michigan, the Oakland University (OU) School of Nursing (SON) has the unique opportunity to implement the first academically-based forensic nursing educational program in the state. Another important feature of the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing (GCFN) is that while other FN certificate programs around the country tend to place their emphasis on one subspecialty within forensic nursing practice, the OU SON curriculum, in contrast, will address all of the currently identified subspecialties within forensic nursing practice (sexual assault, intimate partner violence, child/elder maltreatment, death investigation, and emergency preparedness and disaster management). GRADUATE CERTIFCATE FORENSIC NURSING 9 NR New Graduate Certificate Forensic Nursing 2013 V3 Comparison of Select Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing Programs Institution Oakland University Boston College Duquesne University Johns Hopkins University of Colorado George Mason University Program Post-BSN Post- MSN Post-MSN Post-BSN Post-BSN Post-BSN Curriculum Focus -Sexual Assault (SA) -Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) -Child and Elder Maltreatment -Death Investigation (DI) -Emergency Preparedness/Disas ter Management -SA -SA - IPV -Family Violence -Disaster Training, emergency preparedness -SA -Child maltreatme nt -Violence -SA -DI Credit Hours 18 10 18 12 12 15 1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The OU SON 18-credit, graduate certificate program in forensic nursing prepares nurses to practice professionally in the role of the forensic nurse through the application of knowledge and principles foundational to nursing science and forensic science. The GCFN also emphasizes interprofessional education related to the diverse roles and responsibilities of the forensic nurse as both an independent practitioner and a collaborator within the multidisciplinary forensic team (health, social, government, and legal systems). The curriculum focuses on application of the nursing process and best practice to