Posted: 6/11/2010
Nurses seeking to build their forensic nursing knowledge base and clinical expertise now can access online — from anywhere in the world — the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing — Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) master’s program with a Forensic Nursing Focus. Beginning this fall, the popular program will be offered part-time and will join other JHUSON CNS programs that are also moving to online formats.
The Hopkins Nursing specialized focus prepares post-bachelor’s nurses to work as a clinical nurse specialist with a forensic focus in a variety of areas including: emergency and acute care departments; sexual assault examination programs; child and/or adult protective service investigation units; and psychiatric forensic treatment and evaluation units.
As with all Johns Hopkins CNS masters programs, the essence of education is directed toward creating clinical nursing expertise in diagnosis and treatment to prevent, remediate, or alleviate illness and promote health in a defined specialty population. According to Program Coordinator Daniel Sheridan, PhD, RN, students in this part-time forensic-focused program will be introduced to many major types of at-risk forensic populations. He notes, “Their expertise will be manifested on the care of clients — individuals, families, groups, and communities — who are survivors of: 1) child abuse and neglect, 2) intimate partner abuse, 3) elder abuse, 4) abuse of the developmentally disabled, 5) sexual assault, and/or 6) death investigation.”
Sheridan adds that the program also emphasizes the CNS practices of:
Translation of clinical expertise into nursing care provided either directly or by influencing nurses and nursing personnel through evidence-based nursing care standards and programs of care.
Influences of systems — healthcare agencies, political systems, and public and professional organizations — to mobilize, change, or transform these systems to facilitate expertly designed nursing interventions.
Creating quality, cost-effective patient-focused outcomes.
Applications for the new online program beginning in the fall of 2010 are now being accepted through August 1, 2010. Questions regarding curriculum and career opportunities may be addressed to Dr. Daniel Sheridan, Coordinator of the Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist focus at 410-614-5301 or [email protected]. Students may be admitted during any semester.
Sheridan reports that Johns Hopkins Nursing also is exploring offering a post-bachelor’s certificate in forensic nursing and encourages nurses interested in the program to complete a short survey. The 12-credit hour certificate would be presented entirely online. Students who successfully complete the certificate could apply 8 of the 12 credits toward the Johns Hopkins Clinical Nursing Specialist (Forensic Nursing focus) Online Masters in Nursing.