Module 1 Assignment Description:
Briefing Note
The Joint Commission (TJC) guidelines emphasize that hospitals must educate their staff regarding the identification and appropriate management of the forensic patient. Assessments on patients must be conducted within the context of the requirements of the law regarding the collection and preservation of evidentiary materials and support future legal actions. Review the current Pre-publication Standards on The Joint Commission website, found in the module learning resources.
Outline the prepublication standard of your choice (using the Pre-publication Standards located in the additional resources – do NOT use the Standards link) with a brief description of the highlights of how your organization has addressed this standard and how it applies to a patient with a forensic need.
Critically analyze the following criteria:
- Are there any gaps in the policies/procedures or guidelines in meeting this standard? Identify the gaps and indicate what steps should be taken to address them.
- If there are appropriate policies/procedures or guidelines in place on paper, are they being followed in practice.
- What changes in practice could better meet the pre-publication standard and improve care for the potential forensic patient population? Provide any recommendations to accomplish this goal.
**Note: Remember this is a briefing note, not an essay. Be clear and succinct in your communications.
M1 Assignment UMBO – 3
M1 Assignment PLG – 2
M1 Assignment CLO – 3
Module 2 Discussion Question:
Watch the Beazley (2019) video on forensic photography and then answer the discussion prompt within the forum:
Reflect upon the value of forensic photography as it relates to crime scene documentation and forensic nursing practice. Contrast the value of photographing a crime/incident scene versus sketching a crime/incident scene. Be sure to support your initial posting with at least one scholarly reference.
Module 3 Discussion Question
Watch the Dang That’s Cool (2017) video on crime scene processing and then answer the discussion prompt within the forum:
Reflect on the essential elements of crime scene processing that were discussed in the video. What was one element that you found most interesting in the video content? Offer a discussion of how these skills and tasks are encompassed in forensic nursing practice.
Module 3 Assignment
Evidence Collection Essay
Write a 1500-2000 word essay addressing each of the following points/questions. Be sure to completely answer all the questions for each bullet point. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least three (3) sources in your essay. Make sure to reference the citations using the APA writing style for the essay. The cover page and reference page do not count toward the minimum word amount. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment.
Address the following topics:
- Locard’s principle
- Basic steps in evidence collection
- The importance of chain of custody
- The importance of all nurses being familiar with evidence collection
- The clinical and forensic knowledge differences between physicians and nurses
M3 Assignment UMBO – 1, 2
M3 Assignment PLG – 7, 9
M3 Assignment CLO – 4, 6
Module 4 Discussion Question
A pioneer in forensic death investigation, Dr. Bill Bass founded the University of Tennessee’s Forensic Anthropology Center. Otherwise known as “The Body Farm”, the facility serves as major research and educational center for the concepts of death investigation. Watch the following videos on forensic anthropology; The Body Farm and the Body Farm and Beyond and then answer the discussion prompt within the forum. Both are found in the additional resources.
Reflect upon the knowledge that can be learned about post-mortem changes through forensic anthropology research. How can postmortem changes aid forensic nurse death investigators in determining the position of the body, the place of death, and an approximate time frame of death?
DQ2 UMBO – 4
DQ2 PLG – 4
DQ2 CLO – 4, 5
Module 4 Assignment
SIDS Syndrome Essay
Write a 2000-2500 word essay addressing each of the following points/questions. Be sure to completely answer all the questions for each bullet point. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least three (3) sources in your essay. Make sure to reference the citations using the APA writing style for the essay. The cover page and reference page do not count toward the minimum word amount. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment.
Most people are familiar with the term SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), but not too many people outside of the death investigation community are familiar with the term SUID (sudden unexpected infant death).
- Define both SIDS and SUID
- Contrast the two definitions – Do they both define the same type of infant death?
- What are the differences between investigating an infant death and an adult death? (include developmental issues with your answer)
- Contrast any differences that may exist between the public/general medical community’s understanding of unexplained infant deaths, and the Medical Examiner/Coroner (death investigation) and forensic pathologist’s community position.
- If there are contrasting opinions, discuss why you believe these exist.
- Provide an explanation for why statistical reporting on unexplained infant deaths has shifted from one category to another over recent years.
M4 Assignment UMBO – 4
M4 Assignment PLG – 4, 8
M4 Assignment CLO – 4, 5, 6
Module 5 Discussion
Watch the video pertaining to forensic aircraft accident investigation and review the article, both of which you will find in the additional resources.
Reflect upon what other types of investigations the skill of forensic evaluation can be applied to improve investigative outcomes. Think outside the box and offer innovative ideas for the expansion of the forensic nursing practice.
DQ1 UMBO – 2, 4
DQ1 PLG – 1, 2, 5
DQ1 CLO – 1, 5
Module 5 Assignment
Create a PowerPoint presentation that you might use to educate a targeted group on the value of forensic nursing. Choose one of the three following options for your audience:
- Nurses that are not familiar with forensic nursing. Educate them on the value of using this expertise in healthcare. You may focus on any environment – Emergency, pediatrics, long-term care, risk management, etc.
- Law enforcement – You may focus on police, corrections, sheriffs, border patrol, customs/immigration, or homeland security. Educate them on the value of forensic nursing expertise to law enforcement.
- ME/Coroner – Death investigations. Educate them on the value of using forensic nurse death investigators.
You have lots of freedom to develop something related to your interest that you may be able to use later as a reference to furthering your forensic nursing career.
**Note: The content of this module provides a key component to the value of forensic nursing science through the forensic evaluation of injuries. Therefore, be sure to include components of this module as your selling point to your targeted audience in your presentation.
M5 Assignment UMBO – 2, 5
M5 Assignment PLG – 1, 6, 7
M5 Assignment CLO – 2, 3, 6
Module 6 Discussion
View the video “Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse.”
Reflect upon the four different types of abuse and how forensic nurses can advocate for screening to improve the risk stratification of victims. Offer one evidence-based screening tool to assist in identifying victims.
DQ1 UMBO – 1, 2
DQ1 PLG – 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
DQ1 CLO – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Module 6 Assignment
Issue paper
Write a 500-750 word document, synthesizing the key points on how forensic nursing can be applied to the issue chosen.
Search the International Association of Forensic Nursing website for position papers. Read the IAFN Position Paper – Violence is a Public Health and Health Care Issue.
Introduction
Many organizations are not proactive and find it hard to adopt new and innovative ideas or have the vision to see their long-term benefits. What organizations often do is make decisions based on risk analysis. In other words, they will more readily act on issues that may paint them in a bad light rather than take action on what would be considered the right thing to do. Therefore, in order to move a new initiative forward, you may need to write an issue paper for a high-level executive officer identifying the risk of not proceeding with an initiative rather than presenting the benefits.
Select a practice area, particular role, or organization that you either work in or are passionate about, and identify how forensic nursing could be applied. Write an issue paper and incorporate at least three of the association’s seven positions from the above-noted IAFN position paper in your issue paper.
Use the following format and headings:
- Issue – Identify and describe a forensic medical gap
- Solution – Present why forensic nursing expertise is needed as a result of the Issue
- Risk – Present the risk of not doing what is suggested as a solution
- Recommendation – Present a succinct and specific recommendation
This should be a 500-750 word document. Your challenge will be to condense a complex issue and recommendation into a concise document that is easily read and understood. This will help you to be able to synthesize what would typically be in a 10+ page essay covering this topic completely and pull the key points out and use them in the form of an education tool in an Issue Paper. A busy executive is not going to take the time to read a 10-page document.
M6 Assignment UMBO – 2
M6 Assignment PLG – 2, 6
M6 Assignment CLO – 3
Module 7 Discussion
View the Proctor & Gamble (2020) video The Look, found in the additional resources.
Discuss how microaggressions, intergenerational, and previous historical trauma prevent people of color or LGBTQ+ people from seeking treatment or reporting crime. How can a forensic nurse encourage people who have been traumatized previously to seek treatment?
DQ1 UMBO – 1
DQ1 PLG – 6, 8
DQ1 CLO – 2
Module 7 Assignment
Write a 500-750 word essay addressing each of the following points/questions. Be sure to completely answer all the questions for each bullet point. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least three (3) sources in your essay. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment.
Find your regulating body’s standards of practice and review the IAFN/ANA Forensic Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice. Then, address the following topics in your essay:
- Analyze the similarities and differences between the standards of practice and scope of practice as defined by these entities.
- Discuss the importance of professional organizations and certifications to develop professionalism in forensic specialty practice.
- Define your areas of strength and weaknesses regarding forensic practice. What are your goals for future practice? What limitation can you self-identify and how can you address these areas?
- Reflect back on what you thought a forensic nurse was at the beginning of the course and what you have learned about forensic nursing. What surprises or new information did you gain about the role of the forensic nurse?
M7 Assignment UMBO – 1
M7 Assignment PLG – 6, 8
M7 Assignment CLO – 2
Module 8 Discussion
View the Phegov (2011) NDMS: DMORT video, found in the learning materials.
Explain how a forensic nurse can use forensic skills to help the community during a disaster. Identify a major disaster that has impacted your nursing practice. Utilizing your forensic nursing skills, how could you have improved your response to the situation?
DQ1 UMBO – 1, 4
DQ1 PLG – 4, 9
DQ1 CLO – 1, 3, 6
Module 8 Assignment
This presentation should be a simulation of a podium-type presentation at a conference. It involves a review and comparison and contrast of two peer-reviewed articles from the Journal of Forensic Nursing and an explanation of the implications for forensic nursing in general and how you might personally apply this knowledge in your current or future practice.
Create an 8-10 minute video presentation using PowerPoint ® (Microsoft Office. Record your PowerPoint® presentation via Screencast-o-Matic (free) www.screencast-o-matic.com with video/audio. The presentation (27-30 slides) should include a title and a reference slide in APA format.
Ensure that the articles you choose permit you to answer all of the data points required from the list below. Review the articles and address the following points for each article in your presentation:
- What questions/hypotheses was the researcher trying to answer or investigate?
- Define the variable being studied
- Describe the sample
- Why and how was the sample chosen?
- What biases could exist in the sample selection?
- What did the researcher(s) do to mitigate potential bias?
- How did the researcher(s) gather the data in the study?
- Was the method appropriate?
- What were the results of each study?
- What did you learn from each study?
- Briefly compare and contrast the two studies.
- Do these findings indicate the need for future research, is there a knowledge gap? Explain.
Following the presentation of your article reviews, Explain to your audience the following. Include a minimum of four scholarly articles to support your opinions or relate to any of the information/material you have studied in this course from the peer-reviewed Journal of Forensic Nursing:
- What are the general implications for forensic nursing from these two articles?
- How might you personally apply this new knowledge in your current or future practice?
This PowerPoint® (Microsoft Office) presentation should be a minimum of 27 slides (maximum of 30 slides), including a title, introduction, conclusion, and reference slide, with detailed speaker notes and recorded audio comments for all content slides. Use the audio recording feature with the presentation software.
Please review the module’s Signature Assignment Rubric before starting this assignment to ensure that you meet all the essential requirements. This presentation is worth 400 points for quality content and professional presentation.