At Bon Secours Mercy Health, we are dedicated to continually improving health care quality, safety and cost effectiveness. Our hospitals, care sites and clinicians are recognized for clinical and operational excellence.

　　Violence Response Team - Forensic Nurse

　　St. Mary’s Hospital

　　32 hours a week - 2(12 hour shifts) and 1(8 hour shift)

　　Day/Evening Hours

　　For 30 years, the Bon Secours Violence Response Team has been a critical resource for adults and children impacted by violence. When responding to a call, a Forensic Nurse and Victim Advocate respond to victims impacted by violence. The work of these two roles is complementary. Together, they offer comprehensive care to victims including specialized medical attention, evidence collection, emotional support, advocacy support, follow-up phone calls as well as referrals for community resources.

　　The Bon Secours Violence Response Team serves as a critical resource for adults and children impacted by violence. At Bon Secours, we’re united in support of victims and strive to provide excellent care. Consider making an impact and join our team as a Forensic Nurse.

　　Summary of Primary Function

　　The Forensic Registered Nurse (RN) has a specialized education and training who, with increasing independence, utilizes the nursing process, current evidence-based clinical knowledge, and the International Association of Forensic Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA & IAFN 2016) to provide professional nursing care for patients across the life-span who have been affected by crime, unlawful acts, trauma, and intentional and unintentional harm. The Forensic Nurse integrates knowledge of nursing science, criminal justice, public health, and forensic science and utilizes a trauma-informed approach to assess the medical-legal needs of patients, collaborate with health team members to coordinate patient care, anticipate the outcomes of nursing interventions, and set criteria for the quality of patient care.

　　Essential Job Functions

　　• In collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team, conducts initial and ongoing patient assessment, analyzes assessment data, creates a plan of care, implements treatment, and evaluates treatment effectiveness and safety planning throughout the process and at discharge.

　　• Administers medications in a safe manner, consistent with the State of Practice and Bon Secours Mercy Health policies and procedures

　　• Serves as point of contact for patients' care coordination throughout hospital departments.

　　• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams composed of medical professionals, community and system-based advocates, social services workers, faith community leaders, law enforcement, and legal practitioners.

　　• Applies the nursing process to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations affected by violence and trauma, through identification, management, and prevention of intentional and unintentional injuries and death.

　　• Applies nursing practice to the care of individuals across the lifespan and integrates forensic and nursing sciences in the assessment and care of populations affected by physical, psychological, or social violence, trauma, or death including, but not limited to, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, physical abuse, maltreatment, and neglect, elder abuse and vulnerable persons, and violence resulting in injury or death

　　• Provides episodic care for populations affected by trauma, including those legally defined as victims, suspects, the accused, and perpetrators.

　　• Acts as a patient safety advocate by participating in ongoing quality improvement in the department.

　　• Assesses the need for and implements unit-based activities (quality assessment, in-services, etc.).

　　• Provides education to patients, staff, communities, and populations in the prevention, detection, and treatment of the effects of violence.

　　• Accepts responsibility and accountability for ethical/legal functioning.

　　• BSMH nurses are expected to practice and deliver care in accordance with the core concepts and intention of the BSMH Nursing Professional Practice Model.

　　This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

　　Licensing/Certification

　　Current RN license in state they are working or covered by compact (required)

　　BLS Basic Life Support (preferred upon hire, required to obtain from an approved source prior to providing direct patient care)

　　Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) - International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) (preferred)

　　Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Pediatric (SANE-P) - International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) (preferred)

　　Education

　　Bachelor of Science Nursing (preferred)

　　Work Experience

　　2 years of RN experience (preferred)

　　Training

　　International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) didactic training for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Forensic Nursing program (preferred)

　　Skills

　　• Assigns patient care according to the nursing skill, knowledge, and scope of practice of staff.

　　• Orients, facilitates learning experience, and provides education (based upon quality improvement indicators, outcomes, and implementation) to nursing staff and others.

　　• Possesses clinical knowledge, skills, and competency to provide evidence-based patient care in accordance with the current standards of practice, policy and procedure, and BSMH mission.

　　• Performs comprehensive assessment of patient's clinical condition and psychosocial needs of the patient and their supportive resources.

　　• Safely and efficiently develops, implements, and prioritizes plan of care.

　　• Application of the nursing process in patient care delivery.

　　• Assesses patient's physical and emotional responses to treatment to evaluate effectiveness of intervention and patient outcomes; revises plan of care accordingly.

　　• Assists patient and family in coping with patient's illness.

　　• Collaborates with others in the delivery of coordinated patient care.

　　• Strong interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills.

　　• Applies cultural diversity and inclusion principles when caring for patients and their support resources.

　　• Recognizes own limitations and seeks assistance and acquires information to perform safely.

　　• Advances personal and professional growth through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-services, and workshops.

　　• Exhibits professionalism through accountability for own and delegated actions.

　　• Integrates cost-effective measures into practice and models effective stewardship of available resources.

　　• Practices self-care and cultivates resilience in conflict and difficult circumstances.

　　• Protects the safety and privacy of all persons.

　　• Understanding and utilization of office and clinical technologies.

　　• Ability to communicate with patients in a manner they can understand considering their personal preferences.

　　• Compassionate, relationship-based approach to help find meaning in illness, suffering, pain, and existence.

　　• Remains calm, adaptive, and collective during an emergency.

　　• Recognizes, collects, packages, preserves, and transfers specimens and samples with potential legal evidentiary value.

　　• Documents relevant information accurately and thoroughly.

　　• Applies ethical, legal, and privacy guidelines to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of information.

　　• Knowledge of contemporary forensic nursing evidence-based practice, research, and future innovations.

　　• Evaluation of professional forensic nursing practice to optimize goals and outcomes.

　　• Identification, collection, and organization of data relevant to forensic nurses.

　　• Administers, organizes, and coordinates the role of the forensic nurse in programs, systems, and environments where the forensic nurse practices.

　　• Involvement and influence in internal and external systems where professional and societal regulations of nursing practice affect public health and safety.

　　• Development, analysis, and implementation of health policy relevant to forensic nurses and patient populations in forensic settings.

　　• Provision of ethical, safe, evidenced-based, trauma-informed direct patient care related to injury, crime, victimization, violence, abuse, and exploitation.

　　• Provision of testimony forensic, both fact and expert, in a variety of judicial settings.

　　• Ability to meet the physical and emotional demands of forensic nursing care.

　　Working Conditions

　　Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur

　　May be exposed to physical altercations and verbal abuse

　　May be required to use physical restraints

　　May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights

　　May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids*

　　May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials*

　　May have periods of constant interruptions

　　* Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

　　Physical Requirements

　　Lifting/Carrying (0-50 lbs.): 34-66%

　　Lifting/Carrying (50-100 lbs.) 34-66%

　　Push/Pull (0-50 lbs.) 34-66%

　　Push/Pull (50-100 lbs.) 34-66%

　　Stoop/Kneel 1-33%

　　Crawling 1-33%

　　Climbing 1-33%

　　Balance 1-33%

　　Bending 34-66%

　　Sitting 34-66%

　　Walking 34-66%

　　Standing 34-66%

　　Additional Physical Requirements/Hazards

　　Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination)

　　Perform shift work

　　Maneuver weight of patients

　　Hear alarms/telephone

　　Reach above shoulder

　　Repetitive arm/hand movements

　　Finger Dexterity

　　Color Vision

　　Acuity - far

　　Acuity - near

　　Depth perception

　　Use of Latex products

　　Exposure to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents

　　Exposure to moving mechanical parts

　　Exposure to dust/fumes

　　Exposure to potential electrical shock

　　Exposure to x ray/electromagnetic energy

　　Exposure to high pitched noises

　　Gaseous risk exposure

　　Patient Population

　　Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.

　　Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age, specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.

　　Neonates (0-4 weeks)

　　Infant (1-12 months)

　　Pediatrics (1-12 years)

　　Adolescents (13-17 years)

　　Adults (18-64 years)

　　Geriatrics (65 years and older)

　　Many of our opportunities reward* your hard work with:

　　Comprehensive, affordable medical, dental and vision plans

　　Prescription drug coverage

　　Flexible spending accounts

　　Life insurance w/AD&D

　　Employer contributions to retirement savings plan when eligible

　　Paid time off

　　Educational Assistance

　　And much more

　　*Benefits offerings vary according to employment status

　　All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you'd like to view a copy of the affirmative action plan or policy statement for Mercy Health – Youngstown, Ohio or Bon Secours – Franklin, Virginia; Petersburg, Virginia; and Emporia, Virginia, which are Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employers, please email [email protected] . If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact The Talent Acquisition Team at [email protected]