Helping Establish a Career Field

Now helping the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office care for its inmates, Courtney Rust ’16, ’19 MSN used the extensive network she built while in the MSN program to launch a successful career.

“I decided to further my education and get my master’s degree because I wanted the chance to broaden my learning and knowledge base,” said Rust. “I wanted to know the details of the criminal justice system, its history, past, present, and future, and to find out how nursing fits into criminal justice.”

“I want to help people who are potentially at or close to the lowest point of their lives, even people who don’t know they need my help or want it. I just never wanted to be a ‘typical nurse.’”

Rust heard about Mount Mercy when she was looking to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She graduated from MMU’s accelerated RN-BSN program in 2016, and was excited when MMU added a Master of Science in Nursing program. Rust hoped that by getting her MSN in forensic nursing she would make connections within the community and be a better qualified job candidate.

“I want to help people who are potentially at or close to the lowest point of their lives, even people who don’t know they need my help or want it,” said Rust. “I just never wanted to be a ‘typical nurse.’”

Rust was happy with how well MMU was able to bridge the nursing and criminal justice fields.

“The master’s program not only taught me the basics that I need to know related to forensic nursing, but also improved my professionalism, effective communication, critical independent thinking, and problem solving. I use these skills at work on a daily basis,” she said. “My experiences and education have made me into the person that I am and allowed me to respond calmly, comfortably, and confidently.”

During the practicum portion of the MSN program, Rust explored different career paths within the forensic field. She attended Nurse Practitioner Legislative Day, observed several autopsies, shadowed a nurse death investigator, toured the Iowa Medical Classification Center, and attended conferences, meetings, and seminars pertaining to issues in the field.

Because of these experiences, Rust met many people in the forensic field and created a resource book to use in her career. She also traveled to the UK where she networked with people in forensics in London and Scotland.

Currently, Rust works with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Hired to build and improve upon the medical care provided to inmates during their jail stay, she works with other correctional facilities, physician assistants at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics’ Emergency Medicine Department, jail alternative social workers, and outpatient community resources.

“I enjoy the organized chaos and daily obstacle course of medical issues that come up and keep me on my toes,” said Rust. “My favorite part of the job is being the first person to assess and respond to the medical concerns of the inmates. I feel I’m doing my job right because both the inmates and the deputies report issues to me and trust the treatment recommendations I give after consulting the physician assistant.”

“I encourage you to be the person to help pave the path for future forensic nurses. Help me prove the need, importance, and benefit of having a nurse who specializes in forensics on the team."

While she admits that jumping into a unique career field with a few unknowns can be daunting, Rust advocates forensic nursing as a career choice for nurses.

“I encourage you to be the person to help pave the path for future forensic nurses. Help me prove the need, importance, and benefit of having a nurse who specializes in forensics on the team. Be an asset and a leader in a world that is ready for change,” she said. “Victims need you, and your colleagues do, too, even if they don’t know it yet.”