Elevating an Overlooked Specialty: A DNP student champions forensic nursing in Arizona
Jennifer Rose Saxton, DNP student
At the College of Nursing, Jennifer Rose Saxton, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student, is helping increase visibility for forensic nursing, an essential yet often underrecognized specialty, by raising awareness among policymakers and the public. Through her DNP specialization in Executive Health Systems Leadership (EHSL), she has focused on using data and legislative engagement to deepen understanding of how forensic nurses support vulnerable populations and improve health outcomes.
Forensic nursing encompasses a wide range of roles, including sexual assault examiners, forensic nurse examiners, correctional nurses, nurse attorneys, and forensic clinical nurse specialists. These professionals provide trauma-informed care to individuals affected by violence and trauma, often working at the intersection of health care and the legal system.
Since starting the DNP program in August 2023, Saxton has gained valuable experience analyzing health data and engaging with legislators, using these skills to drive meaningful change. Her work brings together health care, policy, and justice, culminating in a significant milestone: she led a statewide effort to formally recognize the vital role of forensic nurses. After submitting the request to Governor Katie Hobbs, the designation brought long-overdue recognition to the profession, including a proclamation naming November 8, 2025, as Forensic Nurses Day in Arizona.
Saxton said she accomplished this by applying the skills and knowledge gained in her DNP program, including analyzing local and state health data. “This proclamation honors all forensic nurses in Arizona and raises awareness of the critical work they do,” Saxton said. “It is important to highlight this valuable nursing specialty, which many people may not fully understand.”
“Jennifer’s work advancing forensic nursing through policy and advocacy reflects the College of Nursing’s mission to produce nurses who improve health outcomes and serve communities across Arizona,” said Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing. “This proclamation highlights the critical role forensic nurses play and underscores the DNP program’s role in preparing nurse leaders to drive meaningful change.”
“Jennifer has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing forensic nursing through scholarship and advocacy,” said Cindy Rishel, PhD, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, the EHSL program’s specialty coordinator and Saxton’s DNP advisor. “Her ability to translate academic preparation into real-world policy impact reflects her leadership and the strength of the DNP program.”
“Jennifer’s achievement illustrates how DNP students can move beyond the classroom to meaningfully influence systems, policy, and public awareness,” said Lindsay Bouchard, DNP, PMHNP-BC, DNP program director and interim chair. “This is exactly the kind of leadership we aim to cultivate, nurses who not only recognize gaps in care but also take action to address them at the broader level.”
Beyond her academic work, Saxton continues to broaden her impact. She was recently named Senior Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner at the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA), further strengthening her leadership in survivor care.
“Jennifer brings extraordinary passion to a field that faces national staffing shortages, limited visibility, and the constant risk of vicarious trauma, yet remains essential to the healing journey of so many survivors,” said Katlyn Monje, Director of SACASA. “Jennifer exemplifies what it means to meet that responsibility with exceptional skill and deep humanity. Her leadership in securing a Forensic Nurses Day in Arizona uplifts her profession, honors her peers, and shines a light on work that too often goes unseen.”
Saxton’s work also extends into research and practice improvement. Her DNP project, Empowering Nurses to Lead: Enhancing Confidence in Trauma-Informed Discharge Readiness Assessment, focuses on strengthening care delivery for sexual assault survivors. “The purpose of my DNP project is to explore whether implementing a trauma-informed discharge readiness assessment tool improves confidence in assessing discharge readiness among sexual assault survivors,” she said. “I believe that when given the proper tools, nurses can lead the discharge planning process, strengthening their critical thinking and enabling them to practice to the fullest extent of their scope.”
Her long-term goal is to advance forensic nursing through policy and systems-level change. “I have developed a love for health policy and advocacy,” Saxton said. “The success of this proclamation has shown me the value of engaging with government processes to raise awareness of issues affecting my community.”
Saxton is set to graduate this May and plans to continue leading initiatives to improve patient care and outcomes. She says the competencies she gained in the DNP program will continue to support her policy and advocacy work for vulnerable populations. Her efforts demonstrate that Wildcat nurses are prepared to lead, advocate, and drive meaningful change in their communities and across the broader health care landscape.