CFN Victim Assessment and Documentation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which legal concept protects a victim's prior sexual history from being introduced in court during a sexual assault trial?
- The exclusionary rule
- Rape shield laws (Correct answer)
- The hearsay exception doctrine
- Victim privilege statutes
Correct answer: Rape shield laws
Rape shield laws prohibit introduction of a victim's prior sexual history as evidence in assault prosecutions, protecting victim dignity and evidence focus.
Question 2: A forensic nurse documents a wound as '2 cm x 1 cm ecchymosis on the left upper arm at the 3 o'clock position.' What documentation principle does this reflect?
- Subjective narrative documentation using victim-reported descriptions
- Objective, measured, and anatomically referenced injury documentation (Correct answer)
- Legal shorthand accepted by courts in lieu of photographic evidence
- Approximate estimation without measurement tools
Correct answer: Objective, measured, and anatomically referenced injury documentation
Using precise measurements and anatomical clock-face orientation exemplifies objective, reproducible forensic documentation standards.
Question 3: When performing a forensic assessment on a victim who does not speak English, the forensic nurse should:
- Conduct the examination with the victim's family member interpreting to save time
- Use a qualified, neutral medical interpreter and document interpreter use in the record (Correct answer)
- Proceed with nonverbal assessment only until an interpreter is available the next day
- Ask law enforcement on scene to interpret since they are present
Correct answer: Use a qualified, neutral medical interpreter and document interpreter use in the record
A qualified neutral interpreter ensures accurate communication, protects confidentiality, and meets professional and legal standards for informed consent and disclosure.
Question 4: The term 'mandated reporter' in the context of forensic nursing primarily refers to:
- A nurse required to report all patient encounters to law enforcement
- A legal obligation to report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or other defined conditions to authorities (Correct answer)
- A hospital policy requiring incident reports for all trauma cases
- A requirement to report findings directly to the prosecuting attorney
Correct answer: A legal obligation to report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or other defined conditions to authorities
Mandated reporter laws require forensic nurses to notify designated authorities when they identify or reasonably suspect abuse of protected populations.
Question 5: In SANE practice, which action violates the principle of trauma-informed care during the forensic examination?
- Explaining each step of the examination before proceeding
- Allowing the patient to set the pace of the examination
- Asking the patient repeatedly to confirm details of the assault during evidence collection (Correct answer)
- Offering the patient choices about which evidence collection steps to include
Correct answer: Asking the patient repeatedly to confirm details of the assault during evidence collection
Repeated questioning about assault details during examination retraumatizes the patient; history-taking and evidence collection should be separated and handled sensitively.
Question 6: Which type of wound pattern is most commonly associated with defensive injuries in assault victims?
- Contusions on the posterior thorax and lower back
- Lacerations and abrasions on the ulnar forearms and dorsal hands (Correct answer)
- Burns on the plantar surfaces of the feet
- Bite marks on the medial thighs
Correct answer: Lacerations and abrasions on the ulnar forearms and dorsal hands
Victims instinctively raise their forearms and hands to block blows, resulting in ulnar forearm and dorsal hand injuries characteristic of defensive wounds.
Question 7: A forensic nurse is asked to release a patient's sexual assault evidence kit to law enforcement. The correct procedure is to:
- Release the kit immediately to any officer upon request without additional documentation
- Obtain written patient authorization if required by jurisdiction, document chain of custody transfer, and obtain officer signature (Correct answer)
- Retain the kit indefinitely regardless of patient wishes or legal requests
- Destroy the kit if the patient declines to cooperate with law enforcement
Correct answer: Obtain written patient authorization if required by jurisdiction, document chain of custody transfer, and obtain officer signature
Evidence release requires documented chain of custody transfer with officer identification and signature, and patient authorization requirements vary by state law.
CFN Victim Assessment and Documentation 5
Which legal concept protects a victim's prior sexual history from being introduced in court during a sexual assault trial?