Course Overview
Forensic health care and trauma informed practice are emerging as new concepts in the medical/health care of Canadians. It can be a challenge for primary health care providers to care for victims of violence in a compassionate manner while also keeping in mind possible evidence collection and necessary medical care. This course will provide a foundation for providing trauma informed forensic medical/health care to victims of violence. This course is specifically for primary health care providers (Nurse Practitioners, Family Physicians) and RNs working in rural or remote settings (ie. RN(C)) with limited access to a forensic (or SANE) program at the local hospital. It will provide the background necessary to support both the health care needs of these patients as well as their forensic needs. It will provide an understanding of how medicine/health care come together with law enforcement in situations of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. This course will build on the advanced assessment skills of a primary care provider and prepare you to effectively provide trauma-informed appropriate medical care to victims of violence; provide guidelines for follow up and safety planning; understanding your duty to report; identification, assessment and documentation of injuries; collection and management of forensic specimens and how to write a medical-legal report. This course does not provide the prerequisites required to become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).
Prerequisite(s)
- Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Advanced Practice RN, RN(C)- Rural Remote Certified, Outpost Nurse or by permission of the instructor.
Credits
0.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze Canadian and BC laws which impact the clinical practice of the primary health care professional with an understanding of professional duties to report.
- Outline and identify in your own community the roles of health care professionals, law enforcement, judicial system and forensic science in the care of victims of violence.
- Outline the development of professional working relationships for the multi-disciplinary teams needed to provide comprehensive forensic care to victims of violence.
- Outline clinical forensic processes, current standards and scope of practice for the forensic health care professional.
- Describe and begin to integrate Trauma-Informed Practice into your own practice.
- Write a medical-legal report.
- Develop a safety plan with a patient at risk for violence or recurring violence.
- Integrate recommendations for testing, treatment and follow up health care for victims of violence including drug-facilitated violence.
- Adequately identify, assess and document common injuries.
- Understand what is involved in the collection and management of forensic specimens and the difference between these and medical specimens.
Effective as of Fall 2016
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.