CFN Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CFN exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CFN Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CFN Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CFN Questions & Answers
1. How should a SANE handle a disclosure of sexual assault by a pediatric patient during examination?
SANEs are mandatory reporters; a child's disclosure requires immediate documentation of exact words used and a mandatory report to child protective services.
2. What is the primary ethical duty of a forensic nurse?
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.
3. A sexual assault patient declines to report to police but wants a forensic examination. What is the appropriate SANE response?
Many states allow anonymous or blind reporting where the kit is stored for a period, allowing the patient time to decide about reporting.
4. What is the MOST reliable method for documenting wound size in forensic practice?
Photography with a standardized ABFO No. 2 ruler provides objective, reproducible wound size documentation that is admissible in court proceedings.
5. Which burn pattern is most consistent with intentional scalding injury in a child?
Stocking or glove pattern burns with sharp water lines indicate forced immersion — a classic sign of intentional scalding abuse.
6. Why must forensic nurses use precise, descriptive language when documenting injuries?
Forensic nursing documentation often becomes critical legal evidence. Precise, objective descriptions (size, color, shape, location using anatomical landmarks) ensure that injuries can be accurately reconstructed and understood in court.