The IAFN, has selected Atlanta GA for its 2009 Annual Scientific Assembly. This event is held each year around the country to help spread the word about forensic nursing and give participants and exhibitors the opportunity to network and learn more about the latest trends and best practices for Forensic Nursing.

This four day event will be held on October 21-24, 2009.

For Hotel information in the area or flight arrangements: http://www.findnearbyhotels.com/DESTINATIONS/Atlanta_GA_US/

Master of Science in Nursing
Certificate in Forensic Nursing

Offered at the Prince William Campus

Point of Contact

Michele Davidson, PhD, CNM, CFN, RN
Telephone: (703) 993-1924
mdavidso@gmu.edu
Fax: (703) 993-3612

This certificate program offers formal study in theory and practice in applied forensic science and nursing for nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing or individuals in another discipline with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.

Program Requirements

Students applying to the certificate program must be enrolled in graduate degree status or hold a bachelor’s degree. Application is made through the Admissions Office of the University. A requirement for the certificate is 15 credits of graduate course work in which a 3.00 GPA is earned.

Program of Study

The program for the certificate consists of 15 credits in forensic science.  Students who already hold certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or non-nurses are exempt from NURS 734 and will be required to take GCH 602 in place of NURS 734.    

Practice Opportunities

The GMU forensic program focuses on the application of forensics from a social science perspective and prepares graduates to work with clients in a variety of practice settings. Graduates of the GMU forensic nursing program will provide services to victims of violence and abuse including, but not limited to, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, homicide, and drug or alcohol abuse. Forensic nurses work in a variety of public health and public safety settings, as well as in the private sector.  The scope of practice is broad and can include product tampering, environmental hazards, medicolegal death investigation, sexual assault examination, and epidemiological issues.  Clinical roles include emergency and trauma care, corrections, nurse investigator/evidence collection, psychiatric mental health, sexual assault nurse examiner, and nurse coroner positions. The legal nurse consultant is another role that specializes in forensic practice and providing expertise in legal matters. Forensic practitioners often care for living clients and train other nurses to appropriately assess and care for these victims.  As a member of an interdisciplinary team, the forensic nurse possesses expertise in normal anatomy and physiology, assessment skills, determination of causative factors of injuries, and use of therapeutic communication. The GMU forensics program is sound in terms of theory, clinical decision-making skills, and field experiences.  The program is comprised of an interdisciplinary faculty that possesses expertise in nursing, criminal justice, death investigation, and forensic science. Many of the faculty members are nationally recognized experts within the various fields of the forensic specialties.

• Required courses (15)
  • NURS 733 (3:3:0)
    Introduction to Forensic ScienceÂ
    This course focuses on the introductory concepts of forensic science and examines its impact on society. 
  • NURS 734 (3:3:0)
    Interpersonal Violence & Sexual Assault ExaminationÂ
    This course focuses on the incidence and consequences of interpersonal violence and examines the role of the sexual assault nurse examiner when caring for victims of violence. (Must be a nurse with a valid nursing license to take this course).
  • NURS 735 (3:3:0)
    Crime Lab and Crimes Scene Investigation
    This course focuses on the components of the crime lab and the role of the forensic scientist in crime scene investigation.
  • NURS 736 (3:3:0)
    Psychological and Legal Aspects of Forensics
    This course focuses on the psychological and legal aspects of forensic science.
  • NURS 737 (3:3:0)
    Investigation of Injury and Death
    Explores the role of the forensic scientist in death investigation. Examines death, manners of death, and causes of death along with the death certification process. The role of the medical office professional and autopsy procedures will be reviewed.  DNA evidence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) will be analyzed. 

Explanation of Credit Hours

Course titles are followed by numbers in parentheses (0:0:0), separated by colons. The numbers have the following significance:

• First Number: credits for the course
• Second Number: hours of lecture or seminar per week for the course
• Third Number: hours of laboratory for the course

For independent study, readings, topics, or similar courses, individual instructors set hours.

Visit: www.findnearbyhotels.com for a listing of hotels and airfare discounts available in the area.

Cost and Fees:
Registration Fees
(No on-site registration)
Early Full Registration (before May 12th)
FCASV/FNVWS Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $185
Non-Members . . . . . . . $250
Late Full Registration (after May 12th)
FCASV/FNVWS Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $220
Non-Members . . . . . . . $285
Early One Day Registration (before May 12th)
FCASV/FNVWS Members . . . . . . . . $100
Non-Members . . . . . . . . . . $135
Late One Day Registration (after May 12th)
FCASV/FNVWS Members . . . . . . . . $135
Non-Members . . . . . . . . . . $170
Wellness Day . . Free with registration


Description:
Advocacy. Leadership. Therapeutic Resources. Criminal Justice. Serving the Underserved.
As clinicians and advocates, educators and criminal justice professionals, men and women, we must combine all of our resources to provide the services survivors of sexual violence deserve.  We know that survivors come from all walks of life—from different ethnic, religious, economic, and cultural backgrounds. The more we learn from each other, the better able we are to help create seamless, appropriate supports for those we serve.  Please join us in listening to everyone’s voice to begin creating a culture of validation and healing for every survivor.
Visit www.fcasv.org for conference updates.

We have many workshops to choose from this year, including:
• Sexual Assault Services for the Deaf Community
• Fatherhood and Family Violence: Listening to Immigrant Fathers in South Florida
• Poverty, Housing & Sexual Violence
• Domestic Violence in the Haitian Community

Make hotel reservations by May 5, 2008 for the $90 conference room rate. Valet parking is $20 per day.  Contact the Deauville Beach Resort directly at (800)327-6656, reservation code: FNVWS08

Event Web Address: www.aldermanandmarshall.com
Event Sponsor: Alderman and Marshall, Inc.

Contact Person: Tracy Alderman, Ph.D.
Contact Phone Number: 619 840-6061
Contact Email: drtracya@aldermanandmarshall.com

Event CEUs: 7
Event Fee: $90.

Training Event?: Yes

Description: This workshop will provide critical information for those who offer treatment, support, and assistance to those who purposefully injure themselves. Attendees will receive essential information relating to types of self-injury, reasons for self-injury, models of self-injury, assessment and diagnostic issues, and treatment strategies.

the 2008 Annual Scientific assembly is bein hosted at the InterContinental Dallas Hotel in Dallas TX. 

2008 Assembly Purpose & Objectives

The purpose of the 16th Annual Scientific Assembly is to put state-of-the-art science into action and create best practices for forensic nursing across the world and across the lifespan.

At the end of the Assembly, the participant will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of forensic nursing care across the lifespan.
2. Identify resources for supporting forensic nursing professional practice.
3. Recognize sources of knowledge for evidence based practice.
4. Compare and contrast innovative forensic nursing practice skills and strategies.
5. Support the advancement of global forensic nursing practices.

Intercontinental Hotel Rates normally start at $99

The IAFN recently released a new training DVD to help educate and promote awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

This unique, comprehensive and cost-effective training tool helps you advance skills in all aspects of sexual assault forensic examinations, from initial meeting, to patient-centered medical examination and treatment, to proper collection and preparation of evidence, to pretrial and courtroom preparation.

At your own computer, on your own schedule, a distinguished faculty of master practitioners, legal experts, and other professionals will take you through an interactive virtual forensic facility to experience and explore best practices that lead to improved outcomes.

Regardless of your experience level, the Practicumâ„¢ is a must-have tool for forensic examiners, trainers, students, and other medical professionals who care for victims of sexual assault. This is a great tool even if you are just exploring the possiblity of becoming a SAFE (sexual assault forensic examiner).

This program does not replace the standard 40-hour SANE training course, but rather is an innovative supplement that will help forensic examiners provide better patient care.

Canyon College is offering an online Forensic Nursing Certificate Program. You have a time limit of 14 months to complete this course. This course comprises eight modules. You may study at your own pace, and can progress through this program as quickly as you desire. (If you desire our eight-week Forensic Nursing Class, go to NR340) Our Forensic Nursing Certificate Program and Forensic Nursing Class may be used to fulfill nursing continuing education requirements.

Some of the topics/subjects covered include;

1. Sexual Assault
2. Child Abuse
3. Testifying in Court
4. Forensic Nursing Opportunities.

Duration: Monday, April 21, 2008 - Friday, April 25, 2008
 

Description
This program is design for health care personnel (officer, enlisted and civilian) desiring education and training in performing sexual assault examinations. In addition, chaplains, investigators, law enforcement, mental health care workers, sexual assault victim advocates, and persons from other disciplines who wish to have an increased understanding of the sexual assault examination, and to provide a multidisciplinary approach to sexual assault care and the mediolegal process may attend. This course will include laboratory sessions to introduce sexual assault forensic examination techniques, forensic photography, documentation and physical evidence collection. Lectures will provide mediolegal insight to identify and preserve the biological, psychological and social health of the survivor of sexual assault or abuse. This program also satisfies the International Association of forensic Nurse (IAFN) national standard requirements for the didactic component of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification process. A separate clinical preceptorship must be completed in conjunction with the didactic portion in order to sit for the SANE certification exam. Requirements for the clinical preceptorship will be covered in the program.

For More Information
Please contact: Mr. Ricky Giles
http://www.askafip.org
(202) 782-2637 or (800) 577-3749
came@afip.osd.mil

Location

82 College Circle
Dahlonega, GA 30597 U.S.A.  

Costs and Fees
$250 before March 1 - $295 after March 1

Description
For two days take the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in the field of forensic investigation. These experts will share their first-hand experiences and knowledge, focusing on the investigations into sexual crimes, sexually sadistic serial killers, and the typologies of sex offenders who victimize children. Learn how to recognize and identify physical evidence associated with sex crimes and how to properly evaluate, document, collect, and preserve this evidence. You will also get an in depth look at the limitations of this type of evidence and the consequences associated with not properly documenting, collecting, and preserving it.

Join Roy Hazelwood, George Schiro, Tim Relph, and others as they share their experiences, research, and case studies. Gain valuable information to enhance your own skills and share with your colleagues.

Sponsors
Sponsored By: NGCSU Continuing Education

For More Information
Please contact: Deborah Adams
706-864-1918
www.ngcsu.edu/ce/forensic_page.htm
706-867-2815
dwadams@ngcsu.edu