Victim Assessment and Documentation Flashcards
7 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 7 Victim Assessment and Documentation flashcards as text
When documenting injuries on a body diagram for a sexual assault victim, which principle should guide the forensic nurse's notation?
Answer: Document all observed findings using objective, anatomically precise terminology
Body diagrams must reflect all objective findings using precise anatomical language to ensure accurate forensic documentation.
A forensic nurse is assessing a strangulation victim. Which finding most strongly indicates internal injury requiring immediate medical evaluation?
Answer: Petechiae on the conjunctiva and face
Petechiae on the conjunctiva and face are hallmark signs of venous obstruction from strangulation and indicate significant internal vascular pressure.
Which of the following best describes the chain of custody in forensic evidence collection?
Answer: A documented process tracking every person who handles evidence from collection to court
Chain of custody is the documented chronological record of evidence handling that ensures admissibility and integrity in legal proceedings.
During a forensic assessment of a domestic violence victim, the patient recants her initial disclosure. The nurse's priority is to:
Answer: Document the recantation while preserving original objective findings in the record
Objective physical findings remain part of the permanent record; recantation is documented separately and does not erase previously noted evidence.
A SANE nurse photographs injuries on a sexual assault patient. Which photographic technique provides the best forensic documentation of a bruise?
Answer: Close-up photo with a color-calibrated ruler placed adjacent to the injury
A close-up photograph with a color-calibrated reference scale allows accurate size and color assessment for forensic comparison.
Which factor most significantly affects the ability to recover DNA from a sexual assault victim's oral cavity?
Answer: Time elapsed since the assault and whether the victim ate, drank, or brushed teeth
Activities such as eating, drinking, or oral hygiene rapidly degrade DNA in the oral cavity, and evidence recovery decreases substantially after 6–12 hours.
When assessing a pediatric sexual abuse victim, which interviewing approach is most consistent with forensic best practice?
Answer: Use the CornerHouse RATAC or NICHD protocol with a trained forensic interviewer
Standardized forensic interview protocols such as NICHD minimize suggestibility and produce legally defensible disclosures.