Registered Nurse; RN - Forensic Nurse Examiner - St. Vincent Medical Center

Position: Registered Nurse (RN) - Forensic Nurse Examiner - St. Vincent Medical Center
At Bon Secours Mercy Health, we are dedicated to continually improving health care quality, safety and cost effectiveness. Our hospitals, care sites and clinicians are recognized for clinical and operational excellence.

Summary of Primary Function

The Forensic Registered Nurse (RN) is a highly specialized professional who leverages dedicated education and training to deliver comprehensive, trauma-informed nursing care. They operate with increasing independence, utilizing the nursing process, current evidence-based clinical knowledge, and the International Association of Forensic Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA & IAFN 2016). The core function is to provide professional nursing care for patients across the lifespan who have been affected by crime, unlawful acts, trauma, and intentional or unintentional harm.

This role is inherently complex, requiring the integration of knowledge from nursing science, criminal justice, public health, and forensic science. The Forensic Nurse applies a trauma-informed approach to accurately assess the medical-legal needs of these patients, collaborating with the health team to coordinate care, anticipate nursing intervention outcomes, and set criteria for quality care. Crucially, this position demands mobility and adaptability as the RN will travel to and provide services at various hospital facilities within the system to meet patient needs.

Essential Job Functions

* In collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team, conducts initial and ongoing patient assessment, analyzes assessment data, creates a plan of care, implements treatment, and evaluates treatment effectiveness and safety planning throughout the process and at discharge.

* Administers medications in a safe manner, consistent with the State of Practice and Bon Secours Mercy Health policies and procedures

* Serves as point of contact for patients' care coordination throughout hospital departments.

* Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams composed of medical professionals, community and system-based advocates, social services workers, faith community leaders, law enforcement, and legal practitioners.

* Maintains departmental quality assurance through active participation in monthly peer and case reviews, ensuring all forensic documentation and care align with ANA and IAFN (2016) standards.

* Applies the nursing process to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations affected by violence and trauma, through identification, management, and prevention of intentional and unintentional injuries and death.

* Applies nursing practice to the care of individuals across the lifespan and integrates forensic and nursing sciences in the assessment and care of populations affected by physical, psychological, or social violence, trauma, or death including, but not limited to, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, physical abuse, maltreatment, and neglect, elder abuse and vulnerable persons, and violence resulting in injury or death

* Provides episodic care for populations affected by trauma, including those legally defined as victims, suspects, the accused, and perpetrators.

* Acts as a patient safety advocate by participating in ongoing quality improvement in the department.

* Assesses the need for and implements unit-based activities (quality assessment, in-services, etc.).

* Provides education to patients, staff, communities, and populations in the prevention, detection, and treatment of the effects of violence.

* Accepts responsibility and accountability for ethical/legal functioning.

* Facility Travel:
Must be available and willing to travel to and provide services at multiple hospital facilities within the system's service area as scheduled or required by patient need.

* BSMH nurses are expected to practice and deliver care in accordance with the core concepts and intention of the BSMH Nursing Professional Practice Model.

Skills

* Assigns patient care according to the nursing skill, knowledge, and scope of practice of staff.

* Orients, facilitates learning experience, and provides education (based upon quality improvement indicators, outcomes,…