Become a CSI Nurse: Duquesne's Grad Certificate Program
Fast, Convenient Post-Masters Programs
Forensic nursing is on the cutting edge of medicine and law enforcement. If there is a "cool" factor in nursing, this is the career with the draw. Duquesne University's post-masters certificate programs offer advanced practice nurses the opportunity to expand their career horizons or explore other specialties beyond a Masters of Science in Nursing.
The online Forensic Nursing program serves as a degree capstone; abbreviated, but intensive curriculum that engages advanced level nurses in compelling and challenging patient care and patient care settings. This is one of seven such specialized certificates that are developed to provide career flexibility for professionals.
Requirements
Nurses interested in pursuing the Forensic Nursing track must have a valid RN license and already have a completed their MSN degree. RNs in this field must be able to communicate with professionals outside the healthcare field, work closely with both victims and criminals, conduct in-depth research, possess a zest for law and ethics, as well as continue to perform passionately as highly trained nurses.
The online learning environment at Duquesne University involves both synchronous and asynchronous assignments-most allow students to work on their own schedule, but a few require real-time participation in virtual classrooms or via chat and messaging systems.
Curriculum
The Forensic Nursing curriculum is comprised of 17 credits and aims to train nurses capable of integrating forensics into their nursing paradigm. This includes the ability to adapt forensic principles learned, to law enforcement situations, and assist with building the profession of forensic nursing.
Specific coursework includes: identification and forensics of white collar crime, advanced nursing concepts in scope of forensics, courts and legal system, law and ethics, Forensic Nursing's role in the field, and trial procedures. There is also a forensic clinical that may be completed locally with program-approved preceptors.
Career Opportunities
Forensic Nurses comprise a unique set of health professionals. Their work area is often far removed from a traditional healthcare setting and may include: police and law enforcement agency, insurance company, coroner, and community and public health facilities. Types of duties may include sexual abuse and assault intervention and investigation, crime scene evidence collection of living and deceased victims and criminals, one-on-one work with a coroner or medical examiner, and service as expert witnesses and as legal nurse counselors.