Forensic Nursing

Question 1

After attending to a patients immediate medical needs, a forensic nurse often does what?
(3)

Answer 1

collects evidence,
provides medical testimony in court, and
consults with legal authorities

Question 2

What type of patients does a forensic nurse see?

Answer 2

Care provided to patients who are likely to lead to a civil or criminal proceeding, legal hearing, or arbitration.

Question 3

What is a SANE nurse?

Answer 3

Sexual assault nurse examiner

Question 4

What is a SAFE ?

Who is qualifiedtofill the role?

Answer 4

SAFE - Sexual assault forensic examiner - May be an RN, a physician, or a PA

Question 5

What is an FNE?- Forensic Nurse Examiner

Answer 5

FNE - Forensic Nurse Examiner - Nurse who has been trained to see all types of forensic patients

Question 6

What is a Danger assessment tool ?

Answer 6

Danger assessment tool - helps emergency nurses identify women at risk for being killed by an intimate partner

Question 7

Should a nurse document excited utterance or spontaneous statements made under duress such as :he shot me” even if the patient is impaired by alcohol or drugs, medications, dementia, or a psychological disorder?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

When documenting, is it sometimes appropriate to replace the term “refused” with “declined”?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

What is the method for removing clothing from a patient to gather evidence?

Answer 9

Place two clean sheets on the floor, one on top of each other and lay the clothes on top of the two sheets. Separate each piece of clothing to prevent cross contamination of one clothing item to the other.

If possible, have the patient undress him or herself on the top sheet

Place the bottom sheet in the soiled linen

Question 10

What should you do with the sheets the patient used?

Answer 10

Place the bottom sheet in the soiled linen.

Collect the sheet from the EMS stretcher and the hospital stretcher.

Question 11

What type of bag should you use for evidence?

Answer 11

Place each individual item into a separate clean paper bag, which facilitates the drying of contents.

Do not use plastic bags which allow moisture condensation and cause degradation of evidenc

Question 12

What are some things to consider when packaging clothes for evidence?

Answer 12

If the clothes are moist, allow to air dry before packaging them.

Seal the bag with time, date, and initials, not staples, or use a label.

Document the collected items with description.

Question 13

What should you do with a gunshot wound before sending the patient to surgery?

Answer 13

Obtain swabs of he exterior of a gunshot wound before sending the patient to surgery

Question 14

How should you go about obtaining swabs from a deceased person?

Answer 14

Do not swab any stains on a deceased person unless you have permission from a medical examiner or coroner.

Question 15

What should you do with swabs before packaging?

Answer 15

After collection, let the swab air dry before packaging, record the swabs appearance and location, and write your initials on the tape

Question 16

What should you do if a patient has firearm injuries?

Answer 16

If a patient has firearm injuries, apply paper bags over the patients hands until law enforcement can test them for gunpowder residue

Question 17

What should you do when you collect minute debris, such as glitter?

Answer 17

Collect minute debris, such as glitter, on a piece of sticky tape and stick it to a slide from the laboratory, wrap the slide in paper, put it in an envelope, and seal and label.

Question 18

What should you use to handle projectiles, as not to scratch them?

Answer 18

Use forceps with rubber tips to handle projectiles, as not to scratch them. Place each projectile in a separate item in a small individual container along with sterile gauze.

Question 19

What should you do with all firearms?

Answer 19

Ensure that firearms are secured by police.

Question 20

How should you go about Maintaining the chain of custody (of evidence)?
(4)

Answer 20

Document the evidence transfer in your nurses note and include;

Both parties signatures

The officers badge number

The officers jurisdiction

Question 21

Body maps and photographs, do you need both?

Answer 21

Photos should not be used to replace diagrams

Question 22

Photos should follow the rule of four;what is the rule of four?
What other for things are needed when labeling

Answer 22

One long range which includes the face

One medium range

One with a ruler (or object such as a coin)

One without a ruler

Label the photos with the patients name, time, date, and case or MRN

Question 23

Are The terms bruise and ecchymosis synonymous?

3

Answer 23

No

A bruise is the result of blunt force that damages blood vessels

Ecchymosis is usually caused by a slow hemorrhagic leak into the skin

The age of a bruise cannot be determined by its color

Question 24

Are The terms “cut” and “laceration” synonymous?

Answer 24

No
Lacerations result from the tearing or splitting of the skin or another organ by blunt or shearing force

Cuts or incisions are caused by cutting the skin or another organ with a sharp object, such as a knife or scalpel