Forensic Nurse Examiner - PRN

Frederick Health•Frederick, MD

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) provides patient care to adults, adolescents, and children who have been impacted by sexual assault/abuse, child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, strangulation, or other related forensic issues. The Forensic Nurse Examiner team, provides compassionate, culturally sensitive and comprehensive assessments, evidence collections, chain of custody and documentation of forensic patients. The FNE collaborates with law enforcement, child and elderly advocacy programs to meet the needs of each individual patient and is also responsible for testifying as an expert witness in the court of law; providing education/outreach to the community at large, interfacing with medical professionals, law enforcement agencies, criminal justice, victim advocacy and external support agencies that provide services to victims of crime and violence. Independently provides patient care using the nursing process and performs leadership and teaching duties necessary for effective patient care. Supports and participates in continuous quality improvement activities. Functions within the limits of the State and Federal licensing and regulatory bodies. Supports, and is responsible for incorporating into job performance, the Frederick Health (FH) mission, vision, core values and customer service philosophy and adheres to the FH Compliance Program, including following all regulatory requirements and the FH Standards of Behavior.

Requirements

Currently licensed as a registered nurse in the State of Maryland.
Registered nurse with at least 2 years of experience in Emergency medicine, and/or maternal-child health.
Currently certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing as a Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE), Forensic Nurse Examiner – Adolescent/Adult (FNE-A_ and Forensic Nurse Examiner Pediatric (FNE-P)
Certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Responsibilities

Uses knowledge and experience in identifying patient needs and prioritizing treatment.
Recognizes and accurately documents and communicates subtle changes in patient assessment.
Provides initial assessment and reassessments according to current organizational and department standards for Assessment of Patients and Nursing Assessment.
Anticipates potential changes in patient’s condition and responds appropriately
Provides complete evidentiary examination as per protocol, with thorough documentation.
Initiates individualized plan of care using nursing diagnosis based on identified patient needs and includes all available resources, e.g., family, caregivers, other disciplines and community agencies.
Efficiently organizes and prioritizes patient care and seeks assistance when necessary in order to meet the needs of individual patients.
Actively participates in development of standards of care according to departmental, organizational, professional or regulatory standards.
Completely and accurately implements and documents nursing interventions and patient response.
Communicates pertinent information to patient and members of the health care team in a concise and timely manner.
Demonstrates flexibility in giving and receiving patient assignments on the department and hospital-wide based on skill mix of the staff available and patient care demands.
Notifies law enforcement for felony crime if not already notified.
Demonstrates willingness to ensure the FNE program has 24 hour coverage.
Reviews, evaluates and documents effectiveness of interventions, making modifications as needed on the plan of care.
Evaluates new and existing equipment, policies, procedures and programs.
Anticipates patient’s response to interventions and collaborates with patient/family and health care team to revise treatment plan accordingly.
Identifies variances from expected outcomes and makes appropriate recommendations and/or referrals.
Assesses patient/family for: Current knowledge of health status, condition or disease process; Barriers to learning; Readiness, willingness and ability to learn. Cultural, religious, financial and patient preference implications related to learning.
Identifies learning needs and establishes goals using standardized or individualized teaching plans.
Implements the plan through direct, interactive teaching with additional use of teaching aids and materials as appropriate.
Evaluates effectiveness of teaching.
Communicates patient/family progress toward learning goals and need for follow-up to other nurses and health care disciplines.
Integrates discharge planning and referral into the teaching process.
Documents teaching per policy.
Independently offers support to less experienced staff to aid in patient/family teaching.
Attends required education programs and attains minimum of 16 continuing education hours applicable to practice in addition to meeting all mandatory requirements.
Obtains at least 16 continuing education hours in the area of forensic science and/or forensic nursing, per requirement of the Maryland Board of Nursing 2 year renewal cycle.
Maintains current certification through the Maryland Board of Nursing as an RN-FNE.
Incorporates suggestions for self-development and/or performance into daily practice.
Demonstrates effective delegation skills with the nursing staff as the department’s needs, census and acuity change.
Demonstrates effective mentoring skills.
Adheres to program policies and participates in effective department orientation.
Prepares and presents education for staff/community according to established department guidelines.