Distance Learning in Forensic Nursing: The Lived Educational Experience

doi:10.29199/2637-7136/fsdi-101015

Abstract

Highlights

There are a number of studies examining the field of distance learning and how it applies to nursing education [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8], but there remains a void as it relates to nursing students studying to be practitioners in forensic science disciplines
Distance learning in forensic nursing is a key area to study because there is an interest in students wanting to go into forensic science fields
This study was guided by the following research question: What is the experience of nursing students taking forensic courses in a distance learning format? Answering this question will further the knowledge base as it relates to utilizing distance learning for forensic disciplines

Summary

Introduction

There are a number of studies examining the field of distance learning and how it applies to nursing education [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8], but there remains a void as it relates to nursing students studying to be practitioners in forensic science disciplines. The federal government has initiated this process through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by creating an Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) with the goal to “coordinate development of standards and guidelines for the forensic science community to improve quality and consistency of work in the forensic science community” [10] This national movement in forensics makes this line of research all that more important in that if distance learning can be shown to be an effective method for educating aspiring forensic scientists, it could address the issue of educating hard-to-reach populations, such as individuals in rural areas or working professionals, who otherwise would not have access to the training to become certified in a particular field. As the number of distance learning programs continues to expand and the demand for forensic professionals continues to increase, it is important to ensure that the general principles that are being taught are appropriately being learned and applied in this vital public health and safety field

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Conclusion