Upcoming Events and Education

The Pittsburgh Chapter is Proud to Welcome The AALNC Annual Forum 2024!

AALNC Forum

April 18-20, 2024

Omni William Penn Hotel

Pittsburgh, PA

Please visit aalnc.org for more information and to register.  We are so proud to be the host chapter so please be sure to stop by our table to meet us and for our many giveaways and raffle!

April 10, 2024 General Meeting

Please join us at 5:30 pm for our monthly virtual meeting:

"Forensic Nursing: The Healthcare Response to Violence," by Ruth Downing, MSN, RN, CNP, SANE-A

Objectives:

1. Describe 3 roles that a forensic nurse may have.

2. Describe the role of the forensic nurse within the medical and legal systems.

3. Discuss the medical exception to hearsay rule under the Federal Rules of Evidence

Forensic Nursing 1
Forensic Nursing 2

Ruth Downing MSN RN CNP SANE-A is currently a family nurse practitioner in an Urgent Care setting. She has been a registered nurse for over 40 years, and a forensic nurse since 1999. Ruth initiated and directed a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program for seven years.  Ruth has been active in county, state, and national efforts addressing violence in our communities. She founded Forensic Healthcare Consulting in 2007 and has provided education and consulting services for health care, law enforcement and legal professionals nationally, and for national leaders in Peru.  Presentations include human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and strangulation. She has provided expert testimony on sexual assault, domestic violence and strangulation.  In 2016, Ruth partnered with Laura Kaiser BSN RN SANE-A to form Forensic Nursing Network Inc, a nonprofit corporation, to broaden the scope of education for healthcare professionals and mentor forensic nurses in rural areas of Ohio.

  • Memberships:
    • Ohio Council to Advance Maternal Health (OH-CAMH)
    • Ohio Domestic Fatality Review Board
    • Ohio Attorney General Human Trafficking Commission, Past Healthcare Subcommittee Chair
    • Academy of Forensic Nursing, Human Trafficking Special Interest Group Chair
    • International Association of Forensic Nurses
    • Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, serving as President in 2008
    • Medical Advisory Committee for the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention at the Family
       Justice Center Alliance in San Diego
    • Ohio Family Violence Prevention Center Advisory Council
    • Ohio Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board
    • Ohio Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Board
    • Ohio Mortuary Operational Response Team
    • Ohio Medical Reserve Corps
    • Sexual Assault Advisory Board of Ohio
    • American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
    • Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses
    • Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition for which she coordinates the health care response       for trafficking survivors
    • Founding member of the Delaware County Against Human Trafficking Coalition.
    • Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution (S.O.A.P) Project Board
    Honors:
    • Croucher Family Award for Outstanding Leadership, Ohio Domestic Violence Network 2018
    • Peer Recognition Forensic Nursing Excellence, International Association of Forensic Nurses 2015
    • Forensic Nurse of the Year 2015, Ohio Chapter International Association of Forensic Nurses
    • Delaware County Red Cross Local Heroes Award for Healthcare 2015
    • Ohio Liberator Award for Volunteer, Traffickfree 2015
    • Special Achievement Award, Otterbein University Alumni 2014
    • Nomination for Ohio Liberator Award 2014
    • Otterbein University Kappa Lambda Chapter of the Honor Society of Nursing, 2011 Service to
       Nursing Award
    • Helpline of Delaware and Morrow Counties, 2002 Ullom Community Service Award

The cost for members of the Pittsburgh Chapter is free and non-members is $20.  For more information or to RSVP as a member, please contact us at [email protected].  To register as a non-member of the Pittsburgh Chapter:

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April 2024 Meeting Evaluation

Thank you for attending our April meeting.  Please complete a brief survey to obtain your CE certificate for this presentation.

April 2024 Meeting Evaluation

"Forensic Nursing: The Healthcare Response to Violence," by Ruth Downing, MSN, RN, CNP, SANE-A Learning Objectives: 1. Describe three roles that a forensic nurse may have. 2. Describe the role of the forensic nurse within the medical and legal systems. 3. Discuss the medical exception to hearsay rule under the Federal Rules of Evidence. Ruth Downing MSN RN CNP SANE-A is currently a family nurse practitioner in an Urgent Care setting. She has been a registered nurse for over 40 years, and a forensic nurse since 1999. Ruth initiated and directed a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program for seven years. Ruth has been active in county, state, and national efforts addressing violence in our communities. She founded Forensic Healthcare Consulting in 2007 and has provided education and consulting services for health care, law enforcement and legal professionals nationally, and for national leaders in Peru. Presentations include human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and strangulation. She has provided expert testimony on sexual assault, domestic violence and strangulation. In 2016, Ruth partnered with Laura Kaiser BSN RN SANE-A to form Forensic Nursing Network Inc, a nonprofit corporation, to broaden the scope of education for healthcare professionals and mentor forensic nurses in rural areas of Ohio.

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April Meeting Survey