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
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.
Which toxicological specimen has the longest window of detection for drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) substances?
Answer: Hair sample collected 4–6 weeks post-assault
Hair analysis can detect drug-facilitated assault substances weeks to months after ingestion, far exceeding the detection windows of urine or blood.
During a forensic assessment, a patient discloses suicidal ideation. The forensic nurse's priority action is to:
Answer: Immediately address safety, initiate appropriate mental health referral, and document the disclosure
Patient safety takes priority; suicidal ideation requires immediate assessment, appropriate intervention, and documentation concurrent with forensic care.
What is the primary purpose of the FERN (Forensic Evidence Recovery Nurse) protocol in sexual assault cases?
Answer: To standardize evidence collection procedures, ensuring completeness and legal admissibility
FERN and similar standardized protocols ensure consistent, thorough evidence collection that withstands legal scrutiny.
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.
Which of the following accurately describes a 'laceration' versus an 'abrasion' in forensic injury documentation?
Answer: A laceration is a tear through tissue caused by blunt force; an abrasion is a superficial scrape from friction
Precise terminology is critical: lacerations are blunt-force tears with irregular margins, while abrasions are superficial wounds caused by friction or scraping.
A forensic nurse is assessing a human trafficking victim. Which behavioral indicator is most consistent with trafficking victimization?
Answer: Patient is unable to speak without a companion present, lacks ID, and appears coached
Lack of independent communication, absence of identification, and scripted or monitored responses are hallmark indicators of trafficking control.