Advanced Practice Forensics Nurse Specialist (APFNS)

Advance Practice Forensic Nurse Specialists (APFNSs) design, implement, and/or evaluate interventions for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of violence, crime, and/or traumatic injury at the local, national, or global level. APFNSs also collaborate with professionals in health care, social services, law enforcement, legal, and policy systems to:

• design, implement, and/or evaluate services or programs for those affected by crime, including victims, offenders, and communities
• provide leadership for program development and policy change
• conduct research to add to the body of forensic nursing knowledge

The APFNS Pathway is a 48 to 51-credit course of study developed by the UW Schools of Nursing and Law. Students may elect to complete dual graduate pathways that include coursework for nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist preparation, including the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

APFNS students learn from faculty in the UW Schools of Nursing and Law. Clinical faculty serve as preceptors in a variety of clinical practicum sites relevant to forensic nursing and healthcare, and clinical experiences are tailored to student interest and experiential learning goals.

APFNS studies at the graduate level can be completed in a minimum of 15 months of full-time study or 2-3 years of part-time study. Distance Learning support may be available for most students living in or near Washington State.

• Practice Characteristics
• Curriculum
• Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems