RN Forensic Nurse Specialty

Riverside Hospital • Newport News, VA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) is an advanced unit-based registered nurse responsible for providing timely, non-judgmental, and compassionate care to patients who have experienced violence or victimization. This includes conducting forensic medical assessments, documenting injuries, collecting and preserving forensic evidence while maintaining chain of custody, and offering psychological support and referrals. The FNE may also testify in court as an expert witness. This role requires travel to various locations, including medical facilities, courts, and detention centers. The FNE utilizes the nursing process and current clinical knowledge to provide professional nursing care within the Riverside Health System, focusing on patient, family, nurse, and healthcare delivery teams. The FNE assesses medicolegal needs, collaborates with healthcare team members, anticipates outcomes of nursing interventions, and sets criteria for quality patient care. They also participate in professional development, provide education to patients, staff, and the community, and accept responsibility for ethical and legal functioning. The FNE serves as a resource, preceptor, and mentor, demonstrating leadership in decision-making and problem-solving.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse (Required)
• Registered Nurse (RN) - Virginia Department of Health Professions (VDHP) (Required)
• CPR/BLS Certification - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/American Safety and Health Institute (AHA/ARC) (Required)

Nice To Haves

• Bachelors Degree, Nursing (Preferred)
• Trauma, critical care and pediatric experience (Preferred)

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, non-judgmental, compassionate care including forensic medical assessments.
• Perform photo and written documentation of injuries.
• Collect and preserve appropriate forensic evidence while maintaining integrity of chain of custody.
• Provide psychological support and offer referrals for follow-up and counseling.
• Testify in the court system as an expert in the field of sexual assault, physical violence, and neglect.
• Travel to other jurisdictions/facilities as warranted, including other medical facilities, courts, and detention center environments.
• Utilize the nursing process and current clinical knowledge to provide professional nursing care for all forensic patients.
• Assess the medicolegal needs of patients.
• Collaborate with health team members to coordinate patient care.
• Anticipate the outcomes of nursing interventions and set criteria for the quality of patient care.
• Serve as an empowering body to influence patient empowerment and successful outcomes of financial and clinical quality.
• Participate in professional development activities.
• Provide patient, staff, and community education.
• Assess the need for and implement unit-based activities (quality assessment, in-services, etc.).
• Accept responsibility and accountability for ethical/legal functioning.
• Provide direction and guidance to others regarding practice.
• Serve as a resource, preceptor, and mentor.
• Demonstrate leadership skills in decision making and problem solving.
• Exhibit positive customer relations and communication skills with staff, physicians, patients, families, ancillary departments, and the community.
• Act as a liaison between multi-disciplinary team members (i.e., law enforcement, community advocacy centers, attorneys, and social services).
• Observe and evaluate patients’ symptoms, progress, and reactions to treatments, therapies, and medications.
• Demonstrate an awareness of case management process and optimal patient outcomes/discharge planning.
• Report to physician and necessary staff all pertinent assessments related to patient care, changes in patient’s condition, medications administered, treatments, and therapies given.
• Seek information/consultation from more experienced forensic nurse or coordinator when needed.
• Provide forensic nursing care in an objective manner to patients who have been injured through intentional and unintentional acts of violence and victimization, as well as those individuals considered to be suspects and perpetrators of crime.
• Plan, implement, evaluate, and modify independent nursing interventions related to the forensic nursing process for patients, families, communities, and systems.
• Be responsible for charting all forensic/medical information and injuries into SANE Software in a timely manner.
• Prepare and complete all necessary documentation in a clear and concise manner, utilizing appropriate methods (i.e., written narrative, diagrams, and photographs).
• Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality.
• Obtain appropriate history.
• Identify findings associated with intentional and unintentional injury.
• Perform evidence identification, preservation, and collection.
• Maintain chain of custody of all potential evidence.
• Provide clear, objective, well-prepared fact and expert witness testimony in court.
• Maintain knowledge of community and state resources available to victims of crime.
• Collect laboratory specimens.
• Administer medications.
• Perform routine and non-complex treatments and procedures as prescribed or indicated by the patient’s condition.
• Demonstrate positive interpersonal relations in dealing with fellow employees, supervisors, the public, and patients.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior