Graduate Certificate
Advanced Practice Forensic Nurse Specialist

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Forensic Nursing?
Forensic nursing is a relatively new specialty. In 1995, Forensic Nursing gained American Nurses Association support as a specialty area in nursing. Forensic nurses serve the growing needs of victims of crime, violence, and mass casualty. Advanced Practice Forensic Nurse Specialists are prepared to serve clients at an advanced practice level, conduct and disseminate research, and advance the care of forensic populations.

What is the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing?
The Graduate Certificate for Advanced Practice Forensic Nurse Specialists (GC-APFNS) is a 15-credit graduate pathway that provides Master's-prepared nurses with an option to specialize in Forensic Nursing. Forensic nurses specialize in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention for those affected by violence or traumatic injury, whether on an individual or population level.

Is there a national certification in Forensic Nursing?
At this time, there is no certification available to forensic nurses through the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center. IAFN may offer a certifying exam in the future. The American College of Forensic Examiners offers a certification exam in Forensic Nursing.

Will I be a Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist when I finish the GCP-APFNS?
No. Graduate students who are interested in becoming Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Specialists must apply for post-Master's Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist focal areas.

How do I apply?
Application deadline for Autumn 2007 enrollment is January 15, 2007. Click here for specific application information and requirements. The GRE is not required for Graduate Certificate study.

May I attend part-time?
Yes. Course plans can be individualized to fit each student's learning and career goals.

What are the tuition rates and additional fees?

Click here for current tuition rates. We recommend projecting a 10% annual increase for tuition in anticipation of future tuition increases. Click here for information about additional fees.

If I am a state employee, can I use my tuition exemption?
Tuition exemption can be used for the GCP-APFNS. Click here for information about tuition exemption.

What are the on-campus requirements for the GCP-APFNS?
Graduate Certificate students must attend Orientation activities (typically two days during the week prior to the start of the quarter). In-person requirements for individual courses are listed below.

What information is available about the required courses in the pathway?
Courses required for successful completion of the Graduate Certificate include:

The GC-APFNS requires 9 of the minimum 15 credits be taken for a grade

Course Details:

NURS 585: Introduction to Forensic Nursing and Health Care (3 credits/graded). An introduction to the practice, roles and functions of the forensic nurse and other forensic health care providers. Evolution of forensic nursing, the roles of nurses and other professionals in working with victims of crime, violence and abuse, effective coordination and collaboration with law enforcement, other government and community agencies, multidisciplinary practice in forensic health care, assessing and responding to the continuum of victims' and families' service needs.

NURS 586: Forensic Nursing Care of Vulnerable Populations (3 credits/graded). This course focuses on the role(s) of forensic nurses in providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and advocacy services to victims of violence or abuse. The course will begin with an overview of conceptual frameworks used to organize, understand, anticipate, respond to and ultimately prevent violence and abuse victimization. The course then examines facets of family violence victimization including child abuse, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. Interpersonal violence victimization occurring outside of the family will be reviewed as well as adolescent and adult dating violence/abuse victimization. Lastly the course investigates violence and abuse victimization of marginalized group members such as ethnic minorities, immigrants, gay and lesbian persons, chemically dependent persons, and institutionalized persons. Effects of untreated victimization are examined. Key practice issues such as implementation of the nursing process, facilitating victim interface with health care and law enforcement agencies, expanding the role of forensic nurses, and prevention of violence victimization and re-victimization are integrated into each week's content.

LAW H525: Criminal Procedure for Healthcare Professionals (3 credits/graded). This course will examine basic principles, concepts, and purposes of substantive criminal law. Topics include legality, actus reus, mens rea, strict liability, causation, insanity, intoxication, mistake, justification, excuse, parties, attempt, conspiracy, and homicide. The course will also provide an overview of criminal procedure, review of the rights derived from the US Constitution, and the procedure regarding arrest, search and seizure, interrogation, pre-trial identification, pre-trial release and preventive detention, discovery and disclosure, guilty pleas, and double jeopardy.

LAW H524: Evidence for Healthcare Professionals (3 credits/graded). This course will examine the rules governing the admission, exclusion, and presentation of evidence in judicial proceedings. It will target the issues pivotal to preservation and documentation of evidence in the context of physical injury. Topics to be covered in this course include relevancy; authentication; the 'Best Evidence' doctrine; categorical rules of exclusion; character and habit evidence; competency of witnesses; examination and impeachment of witnesses; opinion and expert testimony; presentation of evidence; privilege; the hearsay rule and its exceptions; presumptions and burdens of proof.

NCLIN 543*: Roles in Clinical Practice (3 credits/Cr/NC). This course will serve as the CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE for students as they integrate and apply their model of forensic nursing into practice. Clinical fieldwork emphasizes analytical skills in the implementation of intervention and evaluation strategies for practice, education, and/or administration. Clinical fieldwork may take place in approved sites, such as: prosecutor's offices, law enforcement agencies (investigations/crime scene investigations), sexual assault centers, domestic violence services, the WA Department of Social and Health Services (Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, Residential Care Services), the WA Department of Health (violence prevention; disaster/mass casualty emergency preparedness), the WA Department of Corrections, Seattle-King County Public Health (e.g., Healthcare for the Homeless Network; King County Medical Examiner's Office), Washington State Patrol (crime laboratory; Missing and Exploited Children's Unit), and the WA Attorney General's Office Medicaid Fraud Division. Seminars focus on critical analysis of role-related issues. Students refine their professional portfolio of expertise. (*If student chooses not to take NCLIN 543 in Autumn, NCLIN 544 (Winter) or NCLIN 542 (Spring) may be substituted.

For more information, contact Dr. Maggie Baker.

Where can I find more information about educational opportunities in Forensic Nursing at the University of Washington School of Nursing?

Advanced Practice Forensic Nurse Specialist Graduate Pathway

Where can I find more information about Forensic Nursing?

International Association of Forensic Nurses

American College of Forensic Examiners


Additional Resources