The practice of forensic nursing is characterized by complex clinical challenges and ethical dilemmas, making the educational needs of forensic nurses unique.
Forensic nursing offers a bridge between medicine and the legal system. It is a relatively new, multi-faceted and evolving nursing specialty, with nurses working in emergency rooms, correctional institutions, critical care units, inpatient mental health facilities and other areas where forensic expertise is needed.
The Forensic Nursing Certificate (FNC) is a self-paced, online professional development program designed to provide Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) with knowledge of forensic nursing in secure environments.
The program is delivered online and links the theory, policy and practice elements of forensic nursing in secure environments.
Access to a Windows or Apple (Mac) computer with an up-to-date internet browser is required.
This certificate includes five online courses, each consisting of six modules that total approximately 30 contact hours. Students have 3 to 6 months to complete each course.
You can register for the full certificate or individual courses, and while we do encourage taking the courses in chronological order, you are not required to do so. You may take the courses in the order that works best for your study plan.
A non-credit Certificate of Proficiency will be granted upon successful completion of all five courses in the program.
The course offers an introduction to forensic nursing. The course explores and defines the scope of practice of the Nurse working at the point of care in forensic health care environments, which includes both secure environments, such as Federal and Provincial correctional facilities, and in the broader community (e.g., clients in the community under the the provincial review board, sexual assault nurse examiners, community treatment orders). Learners will be introduced to the unique challenges associated with forensic nursing and the course provides opportunities to define the scope of practice for Nurses working in forensics.
Cost: $795 per course (no HST)
This course provides an overview of the contexts of care relevant to forensic health care environments and explores the unique challenges associated with nursing practice in/within correctional facilities. The course includes a review of the federal and provincial laws, Correctional Services Canada (CSC) policies related to health care in secure environments, as well as the provincial Mental Health Acts.
Cost: $795 per course (no HST)
This course explores the unique aspects of helping relationships in forensic health care environments. Through various scenarios, learners will have the opportunity to explore effective therapeutic skills. The course includes content on group dynamics and aims to foster knowledge of effective strategies to collaborate with inter / intra professional teams to provide care to clients in forensic health care environments.
Cost: $795 per course (no HST)
This course explores the concept of social justice as it applies to secure environments. The course provides an opportunity to explore the various health inequities faced by clients who receive care within secure environments. It also uncovers the role of nursing in advocating for social justice for diverse clients.
Cost: $795 per course (no HST)
In this course, learners will apply knowledge, gained in the previous four courses of the Forensic Nursing Certificate required to competently care for clients in a secure environment, to virtual situations and simulation scenarios.
Cost: $795 per course (no HST)
Using asynchronous digital technology, this certificate is guided by UNB Nursing curriculum, an abilities-based framework that allows students to actively engage in learning. These abilities include:
The core philosophical underpinnings of the curriculum: Caring, social justice and primary health care are interwoven through all five abilities. Learning outcomes are leveled appropriately for progressive learning across the certificate and the abilities-based framework is woven into every course.
To apply for this certificate, or any of the individual courses, you must be either:
The following must be included in your application to the program:
If you are ready to register for your next course, need to make a payment, or have prepaid for your courses or are sponsored, you can send an email request to our team at extend@unb.ca or you can call us at 1-866-599-4646.
Canadian Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) are eligible to apply for the Forensic Nursing Certificate.
To be accepted into the Forensic Nursing Certificate, students must provide proof of current registration, demonstrating that they are currently registered to practise as an RN, LPN, or RPN in Canada.
You can purchase one course at a time at a cost of $795 per course or pay for the entire program up-front for $3,975. There is a textbook to purchase and those details will be included in your acceptance letter.
The Forensic Nursing Certificate is comprised of five 30-hour courses:
While we encourage students to take these courses chronologically, you may take the courses in any order that works best for you.
Students are required to achieve an overall final grade of 70% or higher on each course. Course assessments include assignments and module quizzes.
The target completion date for each course is 13 weeks (3 months) from the registration date. However, students can request an extension for an additional 13 weeks if required, giving them a total of 6 months to complete the course.
Life happens and sometimes we just need a little more time. We have you covered! If you need extra time to complete your course, you can submit an extension request form.
A Windows or Apple (Mac) computer with an up-to-date internet browser will be required to access the Forensic Nursing courses. For more information on browsers or support, see the Brightspace Requirements.
Students are awarded a UNB Certificate of Proficiency upon successful completion of the Forensic Nursing Certificate.
While FNE/SANE nursing is covered in our program at an introductory level, the Forensic Nursing Certificate does not qualify students to work as FNE/SANE nurses.
Unfortunately, this part-time, professional development program does not meet the criteria for provincial student loans. There are a number of avenues for students to explore for program funding. Please check with your respective provincial funding agency or your financial institution.
A sponsorship can take many forms. As an example, you may be sponsored by your employer, or a case manager through a retraining program. In order to send a formal invoice to your sponsor (i.e., if your employer is paying for your program), please have your sponsor fax or email a copy of your purchase order (PO) to our office. The PO must have the following information:
Once you have been accepted into the program and your sponsor's information has been received, you can register for courses by contacting our team directly at customerservice@unb.ca or 1-888-259-4222.
If you are ready to register for your next course, or you have prepaid for your courses or are sponsored, you can send an email request to our team at extend@unb.ca or you can call us, 1-866-599-4646.
You sure can! Please complete the Extension Request form.
You can find these documents in your student portal: MyUNB.
Here you will be able to access and download your unofficial transcript, receipts, and T2202 forms at tax time.
Unable to locate what you are looking for or do you need a document sent to a third party? Please submit the Document Request form.
If you have been inactive for a length of time, your access may be limited. In order to reactivate it, you will need to register in a course. When you are ready to register, select a payment option. For online payments, follow these steps:
You will receive an Intro letter the next business day with the instructions to access your course.
Congratulations! We do need to verify some information with you prior to issuing your certificate. Please fill out the Request to Graduate form.
We've made it easy for you to connect with your instructors. In your D2L, you will find your instructor's email address on the About Your Instructor page. Copy that address and then click on the Email tab in the top task bar. Your instructor will respond to you in the fashion indicated in your email (i.e., email communication or a telephone call).
customerservice@unb.ca | Toll-free: 1-888-259-4222, option 1
