subject: Expand The Job Opportunities For Registered Nurses Through Forensic Nursing Courses [print this page] Expand The Job Opportunities For Registered Nurses Through Forensic Nursing Courses
Beyond the requirements for a Registered Nursing license, forensic nurses take additional training.Forensic nursing courses will teach licensed nurses the skills they need to have in order to be experts in subjects like death investigation and evidence collection. Other topics that are covered are sensitive matters such as rape and abused victim interviewing and examination, as well as emergency room nursing and legal aspects of traumatic injuries. For nurses interested in this career, online forensic courses and classroom opportunities are available for enrolment. One example of a Virtual Classroom for courses on forensic nursing is the American Institute of Forensic Education, Inc., at 255 North El Cielo Road, Suite 140-195, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Another example of an institute that provides information on courses at colleges and universities as well as online certificate studies is the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904.
Generally, a two-year course of study for a Master of Science degree is required to finish a graduate program. Certificate programs, on the other hand, may be taken for only one year. Based on specificforensic nursing courses, web and on-campus opportunities may lead to either a degree or a certificate. If you are to take a certificate course, it may take less time to complete and may also be less expensive. However, those with full degrees can be more qualified for more future opportunities, particularly if the nurses keep themselves up to date through continuing their education and taking learning offerings in forensic nursing. A wide variety of subjects are covered by courses in forensic nursing.
The core areas of study that is part of theforensic nursing courses are sexual assault, child abuse, and deaths. Other skills that are to be taught and applied are important techniques on collecting forensic evidence on the scene and in the emergency room including digital photography and photo software. The legal aspects of forensics that are covered in the courses and are very important basics are the chain of custody and court testimony. If there are registered nurses that are interested in the career development as a forensic nurse, they should make sure they check the institute's accreditation. The official accrediting body for nursing education including courses in forensic nursing is the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.