Forensic Registered Nurse (RN) - Emergency Department - Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Our Forensic Nursing Program has grown and is expanding to meet the needs of our patients. The DH Forensic Nursing Program and the Emergency Department are collaborating to build a new model of forensic nursing in New Hampshire.  This is the first of its kind in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine [region].  We are recruiting nurses with Forensic nursing experience to join our team.  As an RN of this new position, you will be caring for patients in need of medical forensic evaluations, that have experienced acts of violence; including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, interpersonal violence, human trafficking, vulnerable adult abuse, strangulation, and others.  When not completing medical forensic exams, the RN will be functioning as a resource nurse within the Emergency Department. 

The successful candidate will be interested in working with a dynamic team dedicated providing specialized patient care. They will have taken the SANE course and have been practicing as a prepared SANE nurse within the past two years.  Additionally, the candidate should possess an ACLS & PALS certification or have the dedication to obtain within 6 months of hire. The shifts will be 3p-3a, with flexibility to meet the future growth of the program.  We are targeting individuals that will provide the unit with a high level of engagement and flexibility to create this new position. The ED nursing leadership team will provide orientation and training to allow the nurses to cross train to the emergency department to meet the needs of the resource RN portions of this position. 

Forensic Nurse Responsibilities:

1. Provide forensic nursing care in a trauma informed manner.
2. Responsible for collaborating with the medical team and ensuring a Medical Screening Exam has or will be completed.
3. Provides medical care simultaneously, while providing the associated forensic needs of the patient specific to each patient population. Provides medical forensic evaluation options of care specific to the patient population seen to include gathering the history of the violence and performing a comprehensive physical assessment.
4. If evidence collection is completed as part of the medical forensic evaluation, the nurse examiner will adhere and apply forensic nursing care in conformity with the State of New Hampshire Acute Care of the Sexual Assault Patient standards.
5. Collaborate and facilitate advocacy services to appropriate patient populations.
6. Perform and document the comprehensive medical forensic evaluation; including documentation of detailed injuries with support of photography/videography with consent of the patient and if required parent/guardian.
7. Maintains chain of custody for each piece of evidence collection when completed.
8. Coordinates care of agencies involved and coordinates referrals appropriate to each patient medical and/or mental health follow up care.
9. Will facilitate mandatory reporting as required by law to reporting agencies when needed.
10. Provides testimony as a fact witness when subpoenaed and coordinates with attorneys during the judicial process. Maintains open communication with Risk Management during judicial process proceedings.
11. Collaborate with team members to continue to grow the program internally and externally creating partnerships with community partners.
12. This position will be open/eligible to additional on call hours requiring a one-hour response time.

Emergency Nurse Responsibilities

1. Utilizes the nursing process to assess, diagnose, identify outcomes, plan, implement and evaluate an individualized plan of care.
2. Utilizes critical thinking and the nursing process to anticipate and recognize changes in patient status, taking action to modify the plan of care or to elevate to the care team as necessary.
3. Practices in accordance with the ANA Code of Ethics to advocate for patients, uphold their autonomy in decision-making, ensure informed consent and assist patients in families in expressing self-determination.
4. Actively seeks feedback and acts to improve performance.
5. Engages in the governance of practice.
6. Leader/Decision Maker
7. Manages interpersonal relationships for self and with others.
8. Mentors’ colleagues for the advancement of nursing practice and the profession.
9. Assumes authority and accountability for the nursing care of patients while appropriately delegating elements of care to others members of the care delivery team in accordance with laws, regulations and policies and procedures.
10. Prioritizes and organizes time to optimize patient outcomes.
11. Scientist
12. Actively seeks out the most current evidence and standards and applies and translates to daily practice.
13. Role models a culture of inquiry, developing new knowledge by contributing to research, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice at the local level.
14. Transferor
15. Communicates effectively in a variety of formats in all areas of practice.
16. Actively partners with others to effect change that produces positive outcomes through the exchange of knowledge.
17. Precepts the student nurse, nurse extern, nurse resident, experienced clinical nurse and other members of the healthcare team.
18. Will engage in educational activities and team meetings.
19. Performs other duties as required or assigned.

• Graduate from an accredited nursing program required.
• Associate’s degree in nursing required. Bachelor’s degree in nursing preferred.
• ACLS certification at hire or obtained within three months of hire.
• PALS certification at hire or obtained within three months of hire.
• TNCC certification at hire or obtained within six months of hire.
• ENPC certification at hire or obtained within twelve months of hire.
• AVADE certification at hire or obtained within twelve months of hire.
• Intimate Partner Nurse Examiner (IPVNE) course within 6 months of hire.
• Completion of SANE training from an approved IAFN program and have a history of two years of acute care nursing experience.

• Licensed Registered Nurse in New Hampshire required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate required