FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINER RN

FLSA Status

Job Role Summary

The Forensic Nurse Examiner RN identifies and coordinates services throughout Eskenazi Health Services to meet the acute needs of primary and secondary forensic patients. This position serves as a resource for all health care providers in the coordination and management for the care of primary and secondary forensic patients.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

•    Identify and coordinate services throughout Eskenazi Health Services to meet the acute needs of primary and secondary forensic patients
•    Strive for improved patient care with a focus on positive outcomes through primary roles of leadership, consultant, educator, and researcher
•    Serve as a role model for excellence in clinical practice to promote improvement in patient care
•    Serve as a resource for all health care providers in the coordination and management for the care of primary and secondary forensic patients
•    Provide crisis intervention to primary and secondary forensic patients
•    Facilitate the patient’s choice to prosecute by providing support and referrals to the criminal justice system
•    Identify resources and make referrals for health care and long-term therapy needs for primary and secondary forensic patients
•    Coordinate Center of Hope educational offerings in both the professional and community settings, including networking to create opportunities for educational programs
•    Assist with the coordination of training opportunities for new forensic nurse examiners and other medical professionals
•    Seek grant funding and implementation of grant projects to sustain and further develop the Center of Hope program
•    Maintain Center of Hope patient records in a database
•    Submit applications for victim assistance funds as applicable
•    Testify in court as needed
•    Impact patient care indirectly by reviewing, revising, implementing and evaluating standards of care, clinical practice guidelines, policies, and procedures for forensic issues
•    Participate in critical incident stress debriefing activities as needed
•    Market the Center of Hope program to health care, law enforcement, and the lay communities, thereby enhancing the image of the hospital
•    Review and critique pertinent research literature related to primary and secondary forensic patients and promotes research utilization to improve patient care
•    Contribute to the professional nursing literature as needed
•    May design and implement research studies related primary and secondary forensic patients, and disseminate results as appropriate
•    Other duties as assigned by the Center of Hope Program Manager, Emergency Department Manager, Director, or Emergency Department Charge Nurse
•    Function as a staff nurse in the Emergency Department when all forensic nursing duties have been completed
 

Job Requirements

•    Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing
•    Current Indiana licensure as a Registered Nurse
•    Two years of recent acute care clinical experience as a registered nurse required
•    Current BLS, ACLS, TNCC, and ENPC (or PALS) required
•    Completion of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner didactic course in accordance with the International Association of Forensic Nurses Education Guidelines required
•    Completion of Forensic Nursing clinical preceptorship within 1 year of accepting position required
•    Certification of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for Adults and Adolescent (SANE-A) by the International Association of Forensic Nurses or The Generalist Forensic Nuse Certification (GFN-C) by the Academy of Forensic Nurses after completing 2 years of employment AND 300 hours of patient care strongly preferred
 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

•    Advanced Skills in: 
o    Clinical nursing practice, use of equipment/instruments relevant to unit/area care, according to policies, procedures, and standards
o    Effective interpersonal communication and team skills which include listening, interviewing techniques with patients, families, and staff
o    Assessment, reassessment, and monitoring of patients
o    Concise, accurate, legible documentation
o    Problem solving techniques, critical thinking skills, decision making
•    Knowledge and skills necessary to: 
o    Provide care appropriate to meet the age and cultural needs of the patients served
o    Demonstrate knowledge of principles of growth and development of the life span
o    Ability to assess data/interpret appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to age specific needs as well as clinical indications
o    Complete applications for victim’s assistance funds for primary and Indiana Criminal Justice Institute funds as applicable
o    Participate in root cause analysis of forensic issues at Eskenazi Health as needed
o    Use computer programs including Microsoft Office
•    Knowledge of:
o    Fundamental nursing theories and current clinical concepts of care
o    Disease processes and related treatments/care/medications
o    Departmental/hospital policies/protocols
o    Infection control procedures and protocols
o    Treatments/medications
o    Diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and interventions
o    Resources for primary and secondary forensic patients
•    Ability to:
o    Work effectively and cooperatively with a multidisciplinary team consisting of professionals and paraprofessional persons from various community agencies. 
o    Communicate orally and in writing in a concise and easily understandable manner, including grant writing, patient documentation, public speaking, and  interactions with other agencies
o    Provide consultation to other professionals regarding dynamics of victimization and local resources for primary and secondary forensic patients
o    Maintain confidential patient information
o    Maintain chain of custody for records, photographs, and forensic evidence
o    Understand and comply with mandatory reporting requirements for incidents of abuse and neglect
o    Develop, present, and implement educational programs as needed on the care of forensic patients
o    Prioritize tasks and work effectively with complex tasks under pressure/time restraints/irregular schedules
o    Understand and ability to address special issues of primary and secondary victims
o    Recognize medical, legal, and social responsibilities in caring for forensic patients
o    Advocate for primary and secondary forensic patients