FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINER RN-

Division:Eskenazi Health

Sub-Division: Hospital

Req ID: 26613

Schedule: Full Time

Shift: Days

Eskenazi Health serves as the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County. Physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services at the 327-bed hospital and outpatient facilities both on and off of the Eskenazi Health downtown campus as well as at 10 Eskenazi Health Center sites located throughout Indianapolis.

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Job Role Summary

Eskenazi Health is seeking a compassionate and skilled Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) RN to provide specialized care and advocacy for patients impacted by violence, trauma, and abuse. The FNE RN coordinates services across Eskenazi Health, serves as a clinical expert in forensic nursing, and collaborates with healthcare providers, community agencies, and the criminal justice system to ensure exceptional patient-centered care.

This role offers a unique opportunity to combine advanced nursing practice, patient advocacy, education, and community outreach while supporting some of the most vulnerable patient populations.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Identify and coordinate services throughout Eskenazi Health Services to meet the acute needs of primary and secondary forensic patients
• Strive for improved patient care with a focus on positive outcomes through primary roles of leadership, consultant, educator, and researcher
• Serve as a role model for excellence in clinical practice to promote improvement in patient care
• Serve as a resource for all health care providers in the coordination and management for the care of primary and secondary forensic patients
• Provide crisis intervention to primary and secondary forensic patients
• Facilitate the patient's choice to prosecute by providing support and referrals to the criminal justice system
• Identify resources and make referrals for health care and long-term therapy needs for primary and secondary forensic patients
• Coordinate Center of Hope educational offerings in both the professional and community settings, including networking to create opportunities for educational programs
• Assist with the coordination of training opportunities for new forensic nurse examiners and other medical professionals
• Seek grant funding and implementation of grant projects to sustain and further develop the Center of Hope program
• Maintain Center of Hope patient records in a database
• Submit applications for victim assistance funds as applicable
• Testify in court as needed
• Impact patient care indirectly by reviewing, revising, implementing and evaluating standards of care, clinical practice guidelines, policies, and procedures for forensic issues
• Participate in critical incident stress debriefing activities as needed
• Market the Center of Hope program to health care, law enforcement, and the lay communities, thereby enhancing the image of the hospital
• Review and critique pertinent research literature related to primary and secondary forensic patients and promotes research utilization to improve patient care
• Contribute to the professional nursing literature as needed
• May design and implement research studies related primary and secondary forensic patients, and disseminate results as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned by the Center of Hope Program Manager, Emergency Department Manager, Director, or Emergency Department Charge Nurse
• Function as a staff nurse in the Emergency Department when all forensic nursing duties have been completed

Job Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing
• Current Indiana licensure as a Registered Nurse
• Two years of recent acute care clinical experience as a registered nurse required
• Current BLS, ACLS, TNCC, and ENPC (or PALS) required
• Completion of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner didactic course in accordance with the International Association of Forensic Nurses Education Guidelines required
• Completion of Forensic Nursing clinical preceptorship within 1 year of accepting position required
• The Generalist Forensic Nuse Certification (GFN-C) by the Academy of Forensic Nurses after completing 2 years of employment AND 300 hours of patient care strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Advanced Skills in:

o Clinical nursing practice, use of equipment/instruments relevant to unit/area care, according to policies, procedures, and standards

o Effective interpersonal communication and team skills which include listening, interviewing techniques with patients, families, and staff

o Assessment, reassessment, and monitoring of patients

o Concise, accurate, legible documentation

o Problem solving techniques, critical thinking skills, decision making

• Knowledge and skills necessary to:

o Provide care appropriate to meet the age and cultural needs of the patients served

o Demonstrate knowledge of principles of growth and development of the life span

o Ability to assess data/interpret appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to age specific needs as well as clinical indications

o Complete applications for victim's assistance funds for primary and Indiana Criminal Justice Institute funds as applicable

o Participate in root cause analysis of forensic issues at Eskenazi Health as needed

o Use computer programs including Microsoft Office

• Knowledge of:

o Fundamental nursing theories and current clinical concepts of care

o Disease processes and related treatments/care/medications

o Departmental/hospital policies/protocols

o Infection control procedures and protocols

o Treatments/medications

o Diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and interventions

o Resources for primary and secondary forensic patients

• Ability to:

o Work effectively and cooperatively with a multidisciplinary team consisting of professionals and paraprofessional persons from various community agencies.

o Communicate orally and in writing in a concise and easily understandable manner, including grant writing, patient documentation, public speaking, and interactions with other agencies

o Provide consultation to other professionals regarding dynamics of victimization and local resources for primary and secondary forensic patients

o Maintain confidential patient information

o Maintain chain of custody for records, photographs, and forensic evidence

o Understand and comply with mandatory reporting requirements for incidents of abuse and neglect

o Develop, present, and implement educational programs as needed on the care of forensic patients

o Prioritize tasks and work effectively with complex tasks under pressure/time restraints/irregular schedules

o Understand and ability to address special issues of primary and secondary victims

o Recognize medical, legal, and social responsibilities in caring for forensic patients

o Advocate for primary and secondary forensic patients

Accredited by The Joint Commission and named one of the nation's 150 best places to work by Becker's Hospital Review for four consecutive years and Forbes list of best places to work for women, and Forbes list of America's best midsize employers' Eskenazi Health's programs have received national recognition while also offering new health care opportunities to the local community. As the sponsoring hospital for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, the city's primary EMS provider, Eskenazi Health is also home to the first adult Level I trauma center in Indiana, the first verified adult burn center in Indiana, the first community mental health center in Indiana and the Eskenazi Health Center Primary Care - Center of Excellence in Women's Health, just to name a few.