Program
Overview
Program Overview
Completed Application Deadlines
June 1 for fall entry
November 1 for spring entry
Following the Evidence
The online post-bachelor’s Forensic Nursing certificate program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing prepares registered nurses to provide comprehensive forensic nursing assessments and care following injury and disasters.
If you are seeking fast-paced environments and your professional interests include protecting victims’ rights and dignity, assisting their physical and emotional recovery, preserving the chain of evidence, and providing legal testimony expertise, look to this online certificate option. With unique access to high-caliber Hopkins resources and faculty, as well as clinical experience with Baltimore’s underserved urban communities, Johns Hopkins provides intense, comprehensive educational opportunities not found elsewhere.
Those who earn a certificate in forensic nursing:
- Conduct advanced forensic nursing assessments of inflicted trauma
- Assess and document various forms of family, elder, and intimate partner abuse and neglect
- Collaborate with criminologists, members of the justice system, and related healthcare professionals
- Demonstrate expertise in comprehensive emergency and disaster preparedness
- Serve in roles such as forensic or sexual assault nurse examiner, medicolegal death investigator, crisis intervention screener, correctional nursing specialist, or expert medical witness
Program
Requirements
Program Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from an NLNAC of CCNE Accredited Program
- Current Licensure as a Registered Nurse
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completed application with goal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- A current resume or curriculum vitae
- A criminal background check
- An interview with faculty may be requested
Curriculum and career opportunity questions should be directed to Dr. Daniel Sheridan, Dr. Joyce Williams, or the Office of Admissions and Student Services at 410-955-7548 or jhuson@jhu.edu.
Full
Curriculum
Full Curriculum
Core Courses (12 credits)
NR.100.628 Fundamentals of Forensic Nursing
This course presents an overview of the development of forensic nursing as a specialty formally recognized by the American Nurses Association. Forensic nursing, simply defined, explores where nursing practice has a high likelihood of overlapping with the legal system (i.e., child and family abuse, sexual assault, and death investigation). Students will be introduced to a variety of forensic nursing roles as well as how forensic nurses work collaboratively with many disciplines within the justice systems. Principles of thorough evidence collection and preservation will be highlighted. Students will be introduced to expanding career opportunities in this rapidly growing nursing sub-specialty.
NR.100.593 Family Violence
See NR100.493 for description
NR.300.633 Injury Pathology and Advanced Trauma Assessments
Using evidence-based findings from current research, this course presents an in-depth review of injury pathology and advanced trauma assessments across the lifespan. Students will learn about the biomechanic and forensics of sharp, blunt, thermal, penetrating and mixed injuries. Students will be able to better differentiate intentional versus unintentional injuries, and identify diseases and medical findings that mimic abuse. Students will be able to describe the physiology of wound healing, bruise infliction and resolution, and pressure ulcers formation, healing and prevention. Students will examine the physical and psychological traumas from abuse, human trafficking, torture, and wounds of war. Students will review the morbidity/mortality of injury including costs in real dollars and lost productivity. Prevention strategies to minimize trauma will be presented. Forensic written and photographic documentation of the above topics will be emphasized throughout the course.
Pre/corequisite: NR.110.628
NR.300.636 Injury Pathology and Advanced Trauma Assessments Practicum for Forensic Nurses
This clinical course applies injury pathology and advanced trauma evidence-based findings (covered in NR.300.633). Students will apply knowledge learned from assessments across the lifespan to individuals and populations in varied clinical settings. The clinical experience will enable students to examine and translate results from traumatic insults whether through intentional or unintentional means, and identify diseases and medical findings that mimic abuse. Students will inspect the physiology of wound healing, bruise infliction and resolution, and presser ulcers formation, healing and prevention in clinical sites using current evidence-based methodologies. Students will connect the burdens of morbidity/mortality in healthcare settings. Community safety initiatives will be investigated in the student's area of residence. Forensic written and photographic documentation in the health record will be analyzed in the various clinical settings throughout the clinical course experience.
Pre/corequisite: NR.300.633
NR.300.634 Forensic Nursing's Role in Mass Casualty/Disaster Response
This course is designed to provide the essential underpinnings for nursing leadership in disaster preparedness and response. Students will gain broad perspective on disaster theory and logistics, including the local, regional and federal infrastructure needed to support emergency preparedness and response to mass casualties. This knowledge will be applied to support the healthcare needs of individuals and populations affected by a disaster or critical event. It will identify leadership and planning roles pertaining to forensic nurses and the clinical management of victims in the various health-care systems.
Pre/corequisite: NR.110.628
NR.300.637 Mass Casualty/Disaster Response Practicum for Forensic Nurses
This clinical course applies concepts and content central to nursing leadership in disaster preparedness and response (covered in NR.300.634). Students will learn how to apply knowledge learned from disaster theory and logistics at the local, regional and federal levels to support emergency preparedness and response to mass casualties. The clinical experience will enable students to function effectively in both real and/or simulated disasters, and contribute to the planning process for critical event management specific to victims and perpetrators of trauma, their families, communities and the systems that respond to them.
Pre/corequisite: NR.300.634
*Some courses are transferable into the online Master's of Science in Nursing CNS/Forensic Focus
**NR.300.636 and NR.300.637 are clinical courses requiring 56 supervised clinical hours in approved forensic-related sites geographically convenient to the student. Students are encouraged to identify possible sites as soon as possible to expedite the contractual process that can take up to two months to complete. Sites are available in the greater-Baltimore metropolitan area as needed.
Sample Course
of Study
Sample Course of Study
Beginning in either the Fall or Spring of each year, this 12-credit certificate program may be completed in 9 months (2 consecutive semesters).
Fall (6 credits)
NR.100.628 Fundamentals of Forensic Nursing
This course presents an overview of the development of forensic nursing as a specialty formally recognized by the American Nurses Association. Forensic nursing, simply defined, explores where nursing practice has a high likelihood of overlapping with the legal system (i.e., child and family abuse, sexual assault, and death investigation). Students will be introduced to a variety of forensic nursing roles as well as how forensic nurses work collaboratively with many disciplines within the justice systems. Principles of thorough evidence collection and preservation will be highlighted. Students will be introduced to expanding career opportunities in this rapidly growing nursing sub-specialty.
NR.300.633 Injury Pathology and Advanced Trauma Assessments
Using evidence-based findings from current research, this course presents an in-depth review of injury pathology and advanced trauma assessments across the lifespan. Students will learn about the biomechanic and forensics of sharp, blunt, thermal, penetrating and mixed injuries. Students will be able to better differentiate intentional versus unintentional injuries, and identify diseases and medical findings that mimic abuse. Students will be able to describe the physiology of wound healing, bruise infliction and resolution, and pressure ulcers formation, healing and prevention. Students will examine the physical and psychological traumas from abuse, human trafficking, torture, and wounds of war. Students will review the morbidity/mortality of injury including costs in real dollars and lost productivity. Prevention strategies to minimize trauma will be presented. Forensic written and photographic documentation of the above topics will be emphasized throughout the course.
Pre/corequisite: NR.110.628
NR.300.636 Injury Pathology and Advanced Trauma Assessments Practicum for Forensic Nurses
This clinical course applies injury pathology and advanced trauma evidence-based findings (covered in NR.300.633). Students will apply knowledge learned from assessments across the lifespan to individuals and populations in varied clinical settings. The clinical experience will enable students to examine and translate results from traumatic insults whether through intentional or unintentional means, and identify diseases and medical findings that mimic abuse. Students will inspect the physiology of wound healing, bruise infliction and resolution, and presser ulcers formation, healing and prevention in clinical sites using current evidence-based methodologies. Students will connect the burdens of morbidity/mortality in healthcare settings. Community safety initiatives will be investigated in the student's area of residence. Forensic written and photographic documentation in the health record will be analyzed in the various clinical settings throughout the clinical course experience.
Pre/corequisite: NR.300.633
Spring (6 credits)
NR.300.634 Forensic Nursing's Role in Mass Casualty/Disaster Response
This course is designed to provide the essential underpinnings for nursing leadership in disaster preparedness and response. Students will gain broad perspective on disaster theory and logistics, including the local, regional and federal infrastructure needed to support emergency preparedness and response to mass casualties. This knowledge will be applied to support the healthcare needs of individuals and populations affected by a disaster or critical event. It will identify leadership and planning roles pertaining to forensic nurses and the clinical management of victims in the various health-care systems.
Pre/corequisite: NR.110.628
NR.300.637 Mass Casualty/Disaster Response Practicum for Forensic Nurses
This clinical course applies concepts and content central to nursing leadership in disaster preparedness and response (covered in NR.300.634). Students will learn how to apply knowledge learned from disaster theory and logistics at the local, regional and federal levels to support emergency preparedness and response to mass casualties. The clinical experience will enable students to function effectively in both real and/or simulated disasters, and contribute to the planning process for critical event management specific to victims and perpetrators of trauma, their families, communities and the systems that respond to them.
Pre/corequisite: NR.300.634
NR.100.593 Family Violence
See NR100.493 for description
Tuition
Tuition
$1,348 per credit
Completion of program in two consecutive semesters is recommended. Admission to the program can be in either the fall or spring semesters.
More
Information
More Information
The online Forensic Nursing certificate program prepares registered nurses to serve individuals in need of comprehensive forensic nursing assessments and care following intentional injury, non-intentional injury, and disasters. It is based on current published research and evidence-based forensic practices, standards established by the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), and current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Training Modules.
Upon completion of this certificate program, the graduate will be prepared to:
- Recognize injury pathology throughout the lifespan
- Conduct advanced forensic nursing assessments of inflicted trauma
- Assess and document various forms of family, elder, and intimate partner abuse/neglect
- Collaborate with criminologists, members of the justice system, and related healthcare professionals
- Demonstrate key elements necessary for comprehensive emergency and disaster preparedness
Clinical experiences can include a diverse range of environments including emergency and acute care departments; sexual assault examination programs; child and/or adult protective service investigation units; psychiatric forensic treatment and evaluation units; death investigation teams; and governmental and non-governmental agencies.
