Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing- see addendum for Fall 17

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School of Nursing
3008 Human Health Building (map)
(248) 370-4253 • Fax (248) 364-8740
www.oakland.edu/nursing

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Program director:
Kelly A. Berishaj
2019 Human Health Building
(248) 364-8750
berishaj@oakland.edu

Program description

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing is an 18-credit program that prepares graduates for professional practice in the role of the forensic nurse through the application of knowledge and principles foundational to nursing science and forensic science. Curriculum emphasizes interprofessional education related to the diverse roles and responsibilities of the forensic nurse as an independent practitioner and collaborator within the multidisciplinary forensic team while providing specialized care and services to individuals, families, communities, populations, and systems that have experienced violence or trauma.

The Forensic Nursing program prepares graduates to practice globally as a forensic nurse examiner with the ability to sub-specialize in a specific area of forensic nursing if desired. Graduates may practice in a variety of forensic nursing areas such as sexual violence, interpersonal violence, child/elder maltreatment, death investigation, and emergency preparedness and disaster management.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the deadline listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

All applicants to this program are admitted for the fall semester only. The application deadlines are:

Current Deadlines

April 1 for fall semester (deadline is July 1 for Fall 2015 semester only)
International students: April 1 for fall semester

Beginning Fall 2017 Semester

February 15 (early) April 15 (regular) and July 15 (late) for fall semester
International students: April 1 for fall semester

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements

School of Nursing Supplemental Application
Applicants for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing program must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an overall undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Proof of a current unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the United States or its territories.
A minimum of one year of recent clinical experience as an R.N. (within two years of application deadline) is required during which time the applicant must have functioned as an independent decision maker and demonstrated advanced psychomotor skills.
Applicants must have completed an undergraduate physical assessment course.
Requirements for recommendations:
Two (2) Recommendation for Graduate Admission Forms must be completed by healthcare professionals in forensic nursing, leadership, administration/management, or education and are able to attest to the applicant’s nursing skills and/or abilities. One reference must be from a colleague who is familiar with the applicant’s work.
Professional statement of 500 to 1,000 words. The professional statement should focus on the applicant’s reason for seeking formal forensic nursing education, how recent clinical experience has prepared him/her for forensic nursing practice, career goals after program completion, as well as plans for professional development in the specialty of forensic nursing. The professional statement will be evaluated on content and appropriate use of grammar, style, spelling and rhetoric.
Qualified applicants will be selected for an individual interview with a School of Nursing faculty. The interview will be scheduled after all application materials have been submitted.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Certificate requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 18 credits in an approved program of study and includes a minimum of 420 clinical practice hours. The program of study allows students to complete the requirements in 16 months.

Specialty courses

NRS 674 - Foundations of Forensic Nursing Science (3 credits)
NRS 681 - Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Management, and Violence in Society Clinical (1 credit)
NRS 682 - Sexual Violence, Interpersonal Violence, and Child/Elder Maltreatment (4 credits)
NRS 683 - Sexual Violence, Interpersonal Violence, and Child/Elder Maltreatment Clinical (2 credits)
NRS 688 - Advanced Forensic Nursing Seminar (1 credit)
NRS 689 - Advanced Forensic Nursing Clinical (2 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Student Financial Services to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact Student Financial Services for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Program requirements: Students are required to follow the university policies and procedures for graduate students, as described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. In addition to the university requirements, specific School of Nursing policies and procedures are outlined in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Students are expected to earn a grade of 3.0 or above in each course in the MSN program. In courses graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U), students are expected to earn a course grade of satisfactory. Students who are not making satisfactory progress in the program may be placed on probation with conditions imposed for retention in the program or may be recommended for dismissal from the program.

Students are required to keep RN license and health requirements current. See the School of Nursing Web site for health requirements. Students are also required to meet any requirements of the health care facilities where they have clinical learning experiences.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. The plan of study must be signed by the program director and student prior to submission to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Leave of Absence

Students may maintain leave of absence status in the Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) program for up to one year. Before assuming leave of absence status, the student is required to fill out the Request for Leave of Absence form and meet with the SON Graduate Academic Adviser. Return to the program is contingent upon availability of space in the program following return. The following requirements must be met by returning students:

Notify SON Graduate Academic Adviser of intention to return no later than three months prior to the requested return semester.
Develop a revised plan of study with the SON Graduate Academic Adviser prior to registering for courses in the FNP tracks.
Comply with all SON policies and requirements in effect at the time of return.

Note: Submitting a leave of absence form does not guarantee approval. If the form is approved, the student will be required to complete a new plan of study and will be placed in a new cohort as space is available. This will delay the completion of the program by at least one year. If the student does not return to the program by the Anticipated Return From Leave date indicated on the form, the student must reapply to the program. If the student plans to be out two semesters or more, the student will be required to reapply to the program.