Trauma-Informed Patient Care & Assessmen 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 Trauma-Informed Patient Care & Assessmen flashcards as text
A patient who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) refuses to leave the abusive relationship. The forensic nurse's best response is:
Answer: Respect the patient's autonomy, provide harm reduction information, and ensure follow-up resources
Trauma-informed care respects autonomy; the nurse provides harm reduction strategies and resources while acknowledging the complexity of leaving an abusive relationship.
Which assessment tool is validated for screening intimate partner violence in emergency and forensic nursing settings?
Answer: HITS (Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream)
The HITS tool is a validated, brief 4-question IPV screening instrument widely used in clinical and forensic nursing settings.
During a forensic interview, a pediatric patient suddenly goes silent and stares blankly. The forensic nurse should recognize this as a potential sign of:
Answer: Dissociation, a protective trauma response
Dissociation is a common trauma response in children and adults; the nurse should gently re-orient the patient and pause the interview.
Which of the following environmental modifications best supports a trauma-informed forensic examination suite?
Answer: Private, calming space with adjustable lighting and access to a support person
A private, calming environment with adjustable lighting reduces patient distress and supports the trauma-informed principle of physical and emotional safety.
A survivor of human trafficking presents for care but denies being trafficked when asked directly. The forensic nurse's best approach is:
Answer: Use indirect, trauma-informed questions and build rapport before addressing trafficking
Direct confrontation often causes trafficking survivors to disengage; rapport-building with indirect questioning is the trauma-informed approach that may eventually facilitate disclosure.
The concept of 'universal precautions for trauma' in healthcare means:
Answer: Assuming any patient may have a trauma history and adjusting care accordingly
Universal precautions for trauma means treating every patient as a potential trauma survivor, applying trauma-informed principles regardless of known history.
A forensic nurse is documenting injuries on a patient who experienced strangulation. Which symptom is most commonly missed due to its delayed or subtle presentation?
Answer: Petechiae and voice changes
Petechiae above the clavicle and subtle voice changes are classic but often delayed signs of strangulation that may be missed in an initial assessment.