NUR625 - Forensic Nursing
Nursing
James E. Johnson, MD E-MailVitae
225 contact hours (15 semester hours)
COURSE OVERVIEW:
I am happy to provide you with information and instructions regarding this online Forensic Nursing Certificate
Program. As you know, you have a time limit to complete this online Program. This time limit is fourteen months.
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)
This is an exciting program 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 our forensic nursing school program, you will have a much greater understanding of Forensic
Nursing, as well as some of the most current and pressing issues facing Forensic Nurses.
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; traffic medicine, dealing with hostility, physical evidence in sexual
assault cases, and forensic toxicology.
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.
Prerequisites:
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.
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
Forensic Nursing and Mental Disorder in Clinical Practice. Editors: McClelland, Humphreys, Conlon, and
Hillis. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001 ISBN: 0750643099
Sexual Assault: The Medical-Legal Examination. Author: Sharon Crowley. Appleton & Lange, 1999 ISBN: 0838585337
Color Atlas of Sexual Assault. Editors: Girardin, Faugno, Seneski, Slaughter, and Whelan. Mosby, 1997. ISBN: 0815138423 (Optional Text).
Guide to Forensic Pathology. Authors: Dix and Calaluce. CRC Press, 1998. ISBN: 0849302676
Effective Medical Testifying: a handbook for physicians. Authors: Tsushima and Nakano. Butterworth-
Heinemann, 1998. ISBN: 0750699868
Criminal Poisoning : Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and
Attorneys. John H.Trestrail. Humana Press, 2000. ISBN: 0896035921
Criminalistics, An Introduction to Forensic Science, 8th edition. Author: Richard Saferstein. Pearson Prentice
Hall, 2004 ISBN: 0131118528
YOUR INSTRUCTOR: James E. Johnson, M.D.
HOW TO REACH YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
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.
I prefer that whenever possible you contact me by e-mail which is the quickest contact method. I will generally
respond within 2 business days to your email.
Again, do not hesitate to contact me. I am here for you and look forward to working with you.
EXAMINATIONS:
There are eight examinations for this course. There will be an objective part and an essay part. 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.
All 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 complete 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 your exam by the last day of each respective module. Please pace your studies so you will
complete the certification program within 14 months. One example is to allow 2 months each for modules one
through six. Then allow one month for each module seven and eight.
GRADE ASSIGNMENT FOR EXAMINATIONS:
You will receive a letter grade, based on your over all score achievement. The grading scale is as follows:
You will receive a letter grade for each module. Your final program grade will be an average of the scores you
achieve on all modules.
I will e-mail you your score and letter grade for each of the examinations.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Your reading assignments are self-paced. The objectives will be described in more detail at a later time.
Module 1:
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.
Module 2:
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.
Module 3:
Sexual Assault: The Medical-Legal Examination. Preface, Chapters 1 through 6, and Appendix A through I.
Module 4:
Guide to Forensic Pathology. Preface, Part I through part VI, and Appendix A. Objectives: Know and understand
the nursing concepts.
Module 5:
Effective Medical Testifying: a handbook for physicians. Preface, Chapters 1 through 11, and Appendices A through
E. Objectives: Know and understand the nursing (not medical) concepts.
Module 6:
Criminal Poisoning : Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys.
Preface, and Chapters 1 through 10. Objectives: Know and understand the nursing concepts. Understand the
tables.
Module 7:
Criminalistics, An Introduction to Forensic Science, 8th edition. Preface, and Chapters 1 through 9. Objective; The
key terms listed at the beginning of each chapter. The summary at the end of each chapter.
Module 8:
Criminalistics, An Introduction to Forensic Science, 8th edition. Chapters 10 through 18. Objectives; The key terms
listed at the beginning of each chapter. The summary at the end of each chapter
After completing each module, you may request to take each respective exam.
There may be other assignments for reading, case studies, and care plans throughout the class time.
WHAT TO DO:
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 Module 1 examination.
When instructed, proceed to take Module 2 examination.
When instructed, proceed to take Module 3 examination.
When instructed, proceed to take Module 4 examination.
When instructed, proceed to take Module 5 examination.
When instructed, proceed to take Module 6 examination.
When instructed, proceed to take Module 7 examination.
When instructed, proceed to take Module 8 examination.
During the first week of this forensic nursing program, please e-mail your instructor and provide your instructor
with some basic information about you, including:
your contact address (e.g. e-mail address)
your educational goals for this course
your overall goals for a career in Forensic Nursing
your past and current work experiences
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 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!
NOTE: This link will take you to the new syllabus.
