Forensic Nurse

Job Title

Forensic Nurse

Agency

Texas A&M University Health Science Center

Department

School of Nursing

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Bryan, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we are

As one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, Texas A&M Health encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery.

What we want

The Texas A&M School of Nursing is looking for a Forensic Nurse to serve as a member of the Forensic Nursing team. The Tex-TRAC forensic nurse is responsible for providing timely, non-judgmental, compassionate and trauma-informed care to patients requesting a medical forensic examination after a sexual assault via telehealth in partnership with an on-site clinician.

What you need to know

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire's experience.

Required Education and Experience:

• Associate degree in nursing or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Four years of experience as a forensic nurse and 100 adult/adolescent forensic patient encounters

• Currency of practice as an adult/adolescent forensic nurse

• Forensic nurse preceptor for adult/adolescent providers

Required Licenses and Certifications:

• Candidate must hold a current RN license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Texas

• SANE-A or CA-SANE certification

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of issues related to sexual assault and exploitation, domestic violence, and child abuse, with particular expertise in sexual assault and its sequelae

• Ability to comprehensively care for patients after sexual assault in an empowering manner, that includes treating patients with respect, withholding judgment, restoring a sense of control, offering options and comfort, and respecting patients' decisions

• Language and empathy skills necessary to effectively address victim blaming in patients, their companions, and staff

• Ability to accept, incorporate, and offer constructive feedback

• Willing to adopt team practices

• Ability to be an effective mentor

• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others

• Practice philosophy aligned with Duffy's Quality Caring Model

• Fluency in teaching patients and providers about how trauma is neurobiologically expressed following a sexual assault

• Proficiency in the operation of computers and general office software programs, including word-processing, spread sheet, and database software

• Maintains flexibility; shows resilience when faced with difficult situations and fosters these qualities within the telehealth team

• Effectively organizes work to meet frequent and/or multiple deadlines and manages ambiguity well

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

• Responsive to the needs of partners

• Presence and maturity to influence and lead others internally, as well as to represent the university positively

• Ability to respond and provide services in a compassionate, empathetic and non-judgmental fashion and to provide support to crisis victims.

• Knowledge of applicable privacy laws including HIPAA, HI-TECH and VAWA

Preferred Qualifications:

• Forensic medical exams via telehealth or other telehealth experience

• Four years' experience as a forensic nurse and 50 pediatric forensic patient encounters

• Currency of practice as a pediatric forensic nurse

• Forensic nurse preceptor for pediatric providers

• Bilingual in Spanish

Responsibilities:

Telehealth Forensic Nursing Encounters

• Provides direct patient care, patient evaluations, and treatment in accordance with Professional Nursing Standards.

• Assist patient and on-site clinician to navigate patient options including medications, reporting, and evidence collection through informed consent and informed declination

• Mentor and support the on-site clinician as they provide a physical examination, collection of evidence, resource referrals, documentation, photography, and time with a confidential community-based advocate when available

• Model Duffy's Quality Caring behaviors including mutual problem solving, attentive reassurance, human respect, encouraging manner, appreciation of unique meaning, creating a healing environment, addressing basic human and affiliation needs

• Take minimum amount of call required

• Assist callers to the 1-800 number requesting TeleSANE consultation

• Provides forensic nursing consultations in a compassionate, empathetic and non-judgmental fashion and provides support to crisis victims.

• Follow protocols established by program management and exercise professional judgment in utilizing and using the onsite nurse to the nursing process to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.

Reporting and Development

• Assists the Forensic Nurse Manager with the on-call schedule by assigning shifts to ensure coverage, final approval given by the Forensic Nurse Manager

• Assists the Forensic Nurse Manager with protocols and procedure development

• Assists the Forensic Nurse Manager with compiling reports as needed

Administrative

• Participate in regular team meetings

• Case review for each encounter

• Regular check-ins with supervisor

• Testify in criminal court as a witness for consulted cases

• Maintain currency of practice

• Precept onboarding forensic nurses

• Attend Tex-TRAC trainings as required

• Performs other duties as assigned

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

• Employee Tuition Assistance and Educational Release time for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.