Boston College offers forensic nursing programs

by Kaitlin Vigars

Forensic Program Coordinator

Boston College

Forensic nursing is an innovative and evolving specialty that addresses health care issues as they interface with the legal system.  In July of 2008, Boston College placed itself at the forefront of this emerging specialty with the launch of a graduate program in forensic nursing.  This new program teaches nurses at the advanced practice level to take on leadership roles in forensic practice.  This cohort of nursing leaders is trained to have a positive effect on violence prevention efforts and improve outcomes for both victims and perpetrators and their families.

Enrollment in the forensic nursing program at Boston College affords students a variety of multidisciplinary learning opportunities.  In the classroom, students engage in debate with graduate students from across campus as they learn about violence from a theoretical, practical, preventative and legal standpoint.  The four forensically focused courses are taught by professors from a multitude of disciplines and are open as electives to students from the Graduate School of Social Work, Education and Arts & Sciences.  The broad perspective of these courses gives students a comprehensive overview of the various factors that play a role in the perpetration and aftermath of violent crimes. 

To complement this rich classroom experience, Boston College has designed a rigorous clinical course spanning two semesters.  During their second year of study students complete 500 hours of field work at both traditional and non-traditional sites.  Some placements, such as with the Massachusetts Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, teach students the art of patient care as it pertains to victims of violence.  At sites like the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General and the Victims Rights Law Center, students serve as legal consultants, examining medical charts and case law. 

Students also try their hand at detective work, working with social workers and police officers to investigate allegations of abuse that are brought to the attention of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission.  Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in death investigations as they assist with autopsies and crime scene investigation through placements at the Offices of the Medical Examiner in both New Hampshire and Rhode Island.  As students expand their knowledge base through hands on learning, they also work with a number of hospitals in the Boston area to redesign forensic protocols and implement updates.  These varied clinical experiences promote student learning across a variety of settings and teach students to carve out an expanded role in the future of nursing practice.

Boston College offers a number of enrollment options for nurses interested in expanding their skill set.  Nurses who have a bachelor’s degree in nursing can enroll in the traditional master’s degree program.  This program takes two years of full-time study to complete, with the forensic courses and clinical work coming in the second year after completion of the nursing core requirements.  For nurses who currently hold a master’s degree in another specialty, BC offers a fast-track option that can be completed in nine months, bypassing the first year of course work.    Finally, for nurses who wish to enhance their knowledge base and enrich their practice, the college offers a certificate program, Forensics in Health, which can be completed online in as little as 60 hours. 

Apart from the classroom experience the Boston College forensic nursing program also hosts a speaker series and annual conference.  These learning and networking opportunities are designed to present issues relevant to forensic practice for discussion and are free and open to the general public.  Information on upcoming lectures can be found on BC’s website at http://www.bc.edu/forensics. 

AWHONN members interested in these and other opportunities available at Boston College should contact Kaitlin Vigars at (617)552-2550 or via email at forensicnursing@bc.edu.