CFN Victim Assessment and Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting injuries on a body diagram for a sexual assault victim, which principle should guide the forensic nurse's notation?
- Record only injuries the victim identifies as painful
- Document all observed findings using objective, anatomically precise terminology (Correct answer)
- Sketch injuries approximately and rely on written narrative for accuracy
- Defer diagram completion until after law enforcement reviews the case
Correct answer: Document all observed findings using objective, anatomically precise terminology
Body diagrams must reflect all objective findings using precise anatomical language to ensure accurate forensic documentation.
Question 2: A forensic nurse is assessing a strangulation victim. Which finding most strongly indicates internal injury requiring immediate medical evaluation?
- Petechiae on the conjunctiva and face (Correct answer)
- Minor redness at the anterior neck
- Patient denies difficulty swallowing
- Superficial abrasions along the jawline
Correct answer: Petechiae on the conjunctiva and face
Petechiae on the conjunctiva and face are hallmark signs of venous obstruction from strangulation and indicate significant internal vascular pressure.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the chain of custody in forensic evidence collection?
- A record ensuring evidence is reviewed by at least three clinicians
- A documented process tracking every person who handles evidence from collection to court (Correct answer)
- A hospital policy requiring evidence to be frozen within one hour of collection
- A legal requirement that victims consent to evidence release before collection
Correct answer: A documented process tracking every person who handles evidence from collection to court
Chain of custody is the documented chronological record of evidence handling that ensures admissibility and integrity in legal proceedings.
Question 4: During a forensic assessment of a domestic violence victim, the patient recants her initial disclosure. The nurse's priority is to:
- Amend all documentation to reflect the recantation as the factual account
- Document the recantation while preserving original objective findings in the record (Correct answer)
- Notify law enforcement that the case should be closed
- Counsel the patient that recantation will result in legal penalties
Correct answer: Document the recantation while preserving original objective findings in the record
Objective physical findings remain part of the permanent record; recantation is documented separately and does not erase previously noted evidence.
Question 5: A SANE nurse photographs injuries on a sexual assault patient. Which photographic technique provides the best forensic documentation of a bruise?
- Single wide-angle photo of the entire body
- Close-up photo with a color-calibrated ruler placed adjacent to the injury (Correct answer)
- Photo taken under standard overhead fluorescent lighting only
- Photo obtained 24 hours post-assault to allow bruising to fully develop before documentation
Correct answer: Close-up photo with a color-calibrated ruler placed adjacent to the injury
A close-up photograph with a color-calibrated reference scale allows accurate size and color assessment for forensic comparison.
Question 6: Which factor most significantly affects the ability to recover DNA from a sexual assault victim's oral cavity?
- Time elapsed since the assault and whether the victim ate, drank, or brushed teeth (Correct answer)
- The victim's blood type and secretor status
- Whether the victim was intoxicated at the time of the assault
- The age and gender of the perpetrator
Correct answer: Time elapsed since the assault and whether the victim ate, drank, or brushed teeth
Activities such as eating, drinking, or oral hygiene rapidly degrade DNA in the oral cavity, and evidence recovery decreases substantially after 6–12 hours.
Question 7: When assessing a pediatric sexual abuse victim, which interviewing approach is most consistent with forensic best practice?
- Conduct a joint interview with the child's parent present to improve comfort
- Use the CornerHouse RATAC or NICHD protocol with a trained forensic interviewer (Correct answer)
- Ask leading yes/no questions to minimize child distress
- Conduct repeated interviews across multiple sessions with different providers
Correct answer: Use the CornerHouse RATAC or NICHD protocol with a trained forensic interviewer
Standardized forensic interview protocols such as NICHD minimize suggestibility and produce legally defensible disclosures.
CFN Victim Assessment and Documentation 2
When documenting injuries on a body diagram for a sexual assault victim, which principle should guide the forensic nurse's notation?