CFN Trauma-Informed Patient Care & Assessmen 2

Question 1

A patient discloses sexual assault but then recants the story mid-interview. What is the most trauma-informed nursing response?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the patient's ambivalence without judgment and allow them to set the pace

Answer

Recantation is common in trauma survivors; a trauma-informed nurse validates ambivalence and maintains a patient-centered, non-pressuring approach.

Question 2

Which neurobiological phenomenon explains why a sexual assault survivor may have no memory of key details of the attack?

Accepted Answer

Tonic immobility causing dissociation and fragmented memory encoding

Answer

Tonic immobility and high cortisol levels during acute trauma impair hippocampal memory consolidation, resulting in fragmented or absent recall.

Question 3

When conducting a head-to-toe forensic assessment on a trauma patient, which principle best reflects trauma-informed care?

Accepted Answer

Explain each step before it occurs and obtain ongoing consent throughout

Answer

Explaining each step and obtaining ongoing consent restores a sense of control, which is foundational to trauma-informed forensic nursing.

Question 4

A male patient presents after being sexually assaulted. He appears stoic and minimizes the event. The forensic nurse's priority is to:

Accepted Answer

Recognize that stoicism may reflect socialized coping and provide the same comprehensive care as any survivor

Answer

Male survivors often minimize assault due to societal norms; trauma-informed care provides equivalent comprehensive assessment regardless of gender presentation.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'secondary traumatic stress' in forensic nursing?

Accepted Answer

The nurse developing trauma symptoms from repeated exposure to patients' traumatic experiences

Answer

Secondary traumatic stress (compassion fatigue) occurs when healthcare providers internalize trauma symptoms through prolonged empathic engagement with trauma survivors.

(CFN) Certified Forensic Nurse Practice Test

(CFN) Certified Forensic Nurse Practice Test

CFN Trauma-Informed Patient Care & Assessmen 2