Course Title: Department: Instructor: Hours/Credits:

NR340 - Forensic Nursing Nursing James E. Johnson, MD E-Mail - Vita 60 contact hours (4 semester hours)

Applicants must be a licensed registered nurse, or have completed a formal program in nursing and be currently scheduled to take the NCLEX-RN exam, or the appropriate state licensure exam. We do make exceptions based on a student’s prior employment and educational experience.

I am happy to provide you with information and instructions regarding this online Forensic Nursing course. As you know, you have a time limit to complete this online class. This time limit is 8 weeks at our Canyon College nursing school. You may study at your own pace, and can progress through this course as quickly as you desire. (If you desire our detailed Forensic Nursing Certification program, go to the Forensic Nursing Certification program at the Canyon College web site. This is an exciting class and I am sure you will learn some of the most interesting principles related to the area of forensic science for the nurse. This course also provides education for the coroner nurse. After successful completion of the course, you will have a much greater understanding of Forensic Nursing, as well as some of the most current and pressing issues of Forensic Nursing.

It is formatted to be self-directed, along with one-on-one mentoring by your faculty. As your instructor, you and I communicate throughout your time spent in this important study. Communication can be by e-mail system and fax.

You must be prepared to operationalize the concepts learned into the reality of today's nursing environment. The readings in the text, the analysis of case studies supplied in the text, our discussions, and your weekly assignments will assist in meeting this broad-based goal.

You will find the textbooks for this course to be of the best available for the study of Forensic Nursing. They are packed with information.

Some of the topics/ subjects covered include;
(1) traffic medicine and
(2) dealing with hostility.

Students are encouraged to submit questions, discuss issues, and discuss problems related to Forensic Science for the Nurse. Reading assignments from the textbooks are assigned with supporting objectives. There are weekly written responses to related questions that are to be turned into the school instructor as detailed by the instructor.

Text:  Online Bookstore

1.  A Physician's Guide to Clinical Forensic Medicine. Editor: Margaret Stark. Humana Press, 2000.
Binding: eBook. Pages: 352. ISBN: 1-59259-022-5

(The hardbound 2000 edition of the above textbook is out of print. The hardback 2004 edition will be released in the spring of 2005.)

eBooks allow you to read and study textbooks on a computer. No hardback or softback book is needed. More information can be found at
www.humanapress.com/Help_eBooks.pasp?ref=about
and
www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:eBook

You may order the eTextbook directly from the publisher. You will receive the eTextbook usually within minutes of your payment. The publisher website is
www.humanapress.com/Index.pasp

Or we can order the eTextbook and handle the details for you. You will received it within 1-2 days of your payment. Our website is www.geocities.com/jjohnsonmd/textbooks.html

2.  Forensic Nursing and Mental Disorder in Clinical Practice. Editors: McClelland, Humphreys, Conlon, and Hillis. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001. ISBN: 0750643099

Please order your book as soon as possible.

I am available to you on an ongoing basis throughout your time spent in this course. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, issues, etc. I am here to assist you and mentor you to achieve your goals and experience success in this class.
E-Mail jjohnson@canyoncollege.edu
Phone: 615-523-2136
Fax: 615-523-2136

I prefer that whenever possible you contact me by e-mail which is the quickest method. I generally response within 2 business days to emails.
Again, do not hesitate to contact me. I am here for you and look forward to working with you.

There are two examinations for this course. There is a mid-term examination and a final examination.

The examinations are of the subjective and objective type. The examinations are "open" book. They thoroughly test knowledge in key areas of course content. While open book, they require thought and knowledge of the related content for successful completion.

Both examinations are taken "online." The examinations are accessed through the web site for Canyon College. When you are ready to take the examinations, please e-mail me directly and request authorization to take your exam. I will in turn notify the College that you may have exam access. You will receive a notice from the College's administrative offices that you are permitted to have access to the examination.

When you are ready to take the examination, access the web site, and take the examination. Access each exam only once. If you have technical problems, please notify the technical support office of Canyon College immediately and notify your instructor. The examinations are graded after completion and you will be notified.

Most times within 48 business hours of the completion of your exam, you will receive its score.

Please plan to take the midterm exam by the middle of the time period of the course. The final examination must be taken by the last day of the final week of the course.

You will receive a letter grade, based on your over all score achievement. The grading scale is as follows:

90% - 100% 80% - 89% 70% - 79% 60% - 69% Below 60%

= A = B = C = D = F

You will receive a percentage score for the midterm exam and the final exam. I will e-mail these to you.

You will receive a letter grade for the midterm period. I will e-mail this to you and the administration will send you an e-mail.

Your final letter grade will be an average of the midterm exam and final exam scores you achieved. You will receive two e-mails about the final course grade, one from me and one from the administration.

Your reading assignments are self-paced. The objectives will be described in more detail at a later time.
First half of class:
A Physician's Guide to Clinical Forensic Medicine.
Preface, and Chapters 1 through 10.
Objectives; Know and understand the nursing (not the medical) concepts in the textbook, figures, and tables.

Second half of class:
Forensic Nursing and Mental Disorder in Clinical Practice.
Foreword, Introduction, and Chapters 1 through 10.
Objectives; Know and understand the general concepts, figures, boxes, and tables.

After completing each textbook, you may request to take each respective exam.
There may be other assignments for reading, case studies, and care plans throughout the class time.

Order your textbook immediately.
Review the chapter objectives in class before reading and studying each chapter or section. When you are ready, request to take your next test.
When instructed, proceed to take midterm examination.
When instructed, proceed to take final examination.

During the first week of the course, please e-mail your instructor and provide your instructor with some basic information about you, including;

1. your contact address (e.g. e-mail address)
2. your educational goals for this course
3. your overall goals for a career in Forensic Nursing
4. your past and current work experiences
5. any experiences you have had in health care delivery and/or forensic science

Contact your instructor any time you would like to discuss the readings, have questions, require clarifications or further explanations, etc.
Share with your instructor current event issues related to the Forensic Nurse or the Coroner Nurse that you identify in the news media, etc. In turn, your instructor may share such information with you for discussion and analysis.


Have fun! Be positive! Achieve your goals!

Canyon College offers a Forensic Nursing online - enroll and start your online Forensic Nursing today!Take your Forensic Nursing course online today!