CFN Evidence Collection Process 5

Question 1

A SANE nurse is caring for a pediatric patient (age 8) reporting sexual abuse. Who must provide consent for evidence collection?

Accepted Answer

A parent or legal guardian, unless they are the alleged perpetrator

Answer

The child patient, if they can verbally agree

Answer

The child's teacher or school counselor as a mandated reporter

Answer

Law enforcement officer present at the examination

Question 2

Which of the following BEST describes the role of the forensic nurse when law enforcement requests that evidence be collected but the patient refuses?

Accepted Answer

Respect patient autonomy and decline to collect evidence without consent

Answer

Collect evidence anyway to support the criminal investigation

Answer

Contact the prosecutor's office to compel evidence collection

Answer

Document the refusal and collect evidence from the scene instead

Question 3

When collecting dried blood evidence from intact skin, what technique should the forensic nurse use?

Accepted Answer

Moisten the area with distilled water and swab, then follow with a dry swab

Answer

Scrape dried blood directly into an envelope with a clean blade

Answer

Apply adhesive tape to lift the dried blood flakes

Answer

Photograph only; do not attempt to collect dried blood from skin

Question 4

A forensic nurse notes that the assault kit will not be submitted to the crime lab immediately. What is the appropriate storage condition for biological evidence?

Accepted Answer

Refrigerated at 2–8°C in a secured, designated evidence refrigerator

Answer

Room temperature in a locked cabinet

Answer

Frozen at -20°C to preserve all biological material

Answer

Stored with desiccant packets in a sealed plastic container at room temperature

Question 5

During evidence collection, the forensic nurse accidentally contaminates a swab by touching it to a non-target surface. What is the correct response?

Accepted Answer

Discard the contaminated swab, obtain a new one, and document the error in the collection record

Answer

Use the swab anyway and document the contamination in the notes

Answer

Sterilize the swab tip with 70% isopropyl alcohol and continue collection

Answer

Submit the swab but notify the lab of potential contamination verbally

Question 6

What is the significance of collecting a 'known' buccal reference swab from the sexual assault victim?

Accepted Answer

It provides the victim's DNA profile to exclude their contributions from mixed DNA samples

Answer

It is used to rule out the victim as a suspect in the crime

Answer

It serves as evidence of the victim's presence at the scene

Answer

It is required by law enforcement before any other samples can be tested

Question 7

A forensic nurse is asked to testify about the evidence collection process. Which type of testimony is the forensic nurse qualified to provide?

Accepted Answer

Expert witness testimony on forensic nursing standards and evidence collection procedures

Answer

Lay witness testimony about personal observations only

Answer

Character witness testimony about the victim's credibility

Answer

Hearsay testimony about what the patient reported to other clinicians