Mixed Deck — All CFN Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real CFN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All CFN Topics flashcards as text
During cross-examination, a defense attorney asks a forensic nurse to speculate beyond her documented findings. What is the most appropriate response?
Answer: State 'that is outside the scope of my findings' and decline to speculate
Expert witnesses must confine testimony to their area of expertise and documented findings, refusing to speculate beyond the evidence.
A patient seen by a forensic nurse for an assault examination later sends the nurse a private message and a friend request on a personal social media platform. Which action is most consistent with maintaining professional boundaries?
Answer: Politely decline the request, explaining that professional policy prevents connecting with patients on personal social media to protect their privacy and the therapeutic relationship.
Engaging with current or former patients on personal social media blurs the lines between a professional and personal relationship, which can be a boundary violation. The most professional response is to politely decline while explaining the rationale in a non-judgmental way. Simply ignoring the request could be misinterpreted, and accepting it is inappropriate. Reporting it is an overreaction unless the contact becomes harassing.
How should a SANE handle a disclosure of sexual assault by a pediatric patient during examination?
Answer: Document verbatim and make a mandatory child abuse report
SANEs are mandatory reporters; a child's disclosure requires immediate documentation of exact words used and a mandatory report to child protective services.
Which factor is LEAST relevant when determining whether a forensic nurse qualifies as an expert witness?
Answer: The number of years since she graduated nursing school
Years since graduation alone does not establish expertise; relevant qualifications include specialized training, certification, clinical experience, and scholarship.
Which of the following best describes the principle of 'trustworthiness and transparency' in trauma-informed care?
Answer: Clearly explaining procedures, processes, and limits of confidentiality to the patient
Trustworthiness requires nurses to be transparent about what will happen during the exam and what information may be shared, restoring predictability for trauma survivors.
A forensic nurse is deposed prior to trial. What is the primary purpose of a deposition in civil litigation?
Answer: To obtain sworn testimony and preserve it for trial use
A deposition preserves a witness's sworn testimony under oath, which can be used at trial for impeachment or if the witness is unavailable.
What is the primary ethical duty of a forensic nurse?
Answer: Ensure patient welfare and uphold ethical standards
The primary ethical duty of a forensic nurse is to ensure the welfare of the patient while upholding the highest ethical standards of the nursing profession. This involves advocating for the patient's rights, maintaining confidentiality, and providing compassionate care, even when balancing these duties with legal obligations. Patient well-being is paramount in all forensic interactions.
When a victim of human trafficking presents for healthcare, which finding most suggests labor trafficking rather than sex trafficking?
Answer: Musculoskeletal injuries, calluses, and malnutrition
Labor trafficking victims often present with occupational injuries, repetitive strain injuries, malnutrition, and signs of physical overexertion.
A forensic nurse completes a sexual assault examination and finds no anogenital injuries. The most appropriate documentation would state:
Answer: No acute anogenital injuries identified; absence of injury does not exclude sexual assault
Research shows the majority of sexual assault victims have no anogenital injuries, so absence of injury must be explicitly documented without implying non-occurrence.
A forensic nurse provides testimony that exceeds her documented findings, offering speculative conclusions. This constitutes:
Answer: Perjury if knowingly false, and a breach of professional ethics
Forensic nurses must testify only to documented findings; speculation constitutes a breach of ethics and may constitute perjury.
When labeling evidence collected during a SANE examination, which information is MANDATORY on each item?
Answer: Case number, collector's initials, date/time, and anatomic source
Each evidence item must be labeled with the case number, collector's initials, collection date/time, and the specific anatomic source for chain of custody integrity.
Which of the following best defines 'secondary traumatic stress' as it relates to forensic nurses?
Answer: Emotional distress resulting from indirect exposure to a patient's traumatic experiences
Secondary traumatic stress occurs when clinicians absorb the trauma of those they care for through empathic engagement.
A sexual assault patient declines to report to police but wants a forensic examination. What is the appropriate SANE response?
Answer: Perform the examination and store the kit per anonymous reporting protocol
Many states allow anonymous or blind reporting where the kit is stored for a period, allowing the patient time to decide about reporting.
When obtaining informed consent for a medical forensic examination, the nurse explains the purpose of each procedure, potential benefits, possible risks, and the patient's right to refuse any or all parts of the exam. This detailed process primarily upholds which core ethical principle?
Answer: Autonomy
Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes the right of individuals to make their own decisions about their bodies and medical care. The process of informed consent, which involves providing comprehensive information so a patient can make a voluntary and informed choice, is the direct application of the principle of autonomy. Beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (do no harm), and justice (fairness) are also critical, but the act of ensuring a patient can make their own decision is a direct reflection of respecting their autonomy.
What is the MOST reliable method for documenting wound size in forensic practice?
Answer: Photography with an ABFO No. 2 scale ruler
Photography with a standardized ABFO No. 2 ruler provides objective, reproducible wound size documentation that is admissible in court proceedings.
A forensic nurse is asked to collect a DNA buccal swab from a suspect by law enforcement. Before proceeding, the nurse must confirm:
Answer: Proper legal authorization (consent or court order) has been obtained for the collection
Collecting DNA from a suspect without consent or a court-ordered warrant violates Fourth Amendment rights and can render evidence inadmissible.
Which burn pattern is most consistent with intentional scalding injury in a child?
Answer: Stocking or glove pattern burns with sharp demarcation
Stocking or glove pattern burns with sharp water lines indicate forced immersion — a classic sign of intentional scalding abuse.
A male patient presents after being sexually assaulted. He appears stoic and minimizes the event. The forensic nurse's priority is to:
Answer: Recognize that stoicism may reflect socialized coping and provide the same comprehensive care as any survivor
Male survivors often minimize assault due to societal norms; trauma-informed care provides equivalent comprehensive assessment regardless of gender presentation.
A victim reports being assaulted 6 days ago but is presenting for the first time. The forensic nurse should:
Answer: Conduct a thorough assessment, document delayed healing injuries, and collect available evidence
Delayed presentations can still yield documentation of resolving injuries and, in some cases, biological evidence, making a full assessment essential.
In a legal proceeding, 'chain of custody' for evidence collected by a forensic nurse refers to:
Answer: The documented chronological transfer and control of evidence
Chain of custody documents every person who handled evidence to ensure its integrity and admissibility in court.