Courtroom Testimony and Procedures 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 Courtroom Testimony and Procedures flashcards as text
When a forensic nurse discovers a discrepancy between her written report and her testimony mid-trial, the best course of action is to:
Answer: Acknowledge the discrepancy, clarify what is accurate, and explain any difference
Transparency about discrepancies protects the nurse's credibility; the witness should address inconsistencies directly and explain them rather than conceal or minimize them.
Under Federal Rule of Evidence 702, expert testimony is admissible when the expert's methodology is:
Answer: Based on sufficient facts, reliable principles, and reliably applied to the case facts
FRE 702 requires that expert testimony rest on sufficient facts or data, be the product of reliable methods, and be reliably applied to the facts of the case.
A forensic nurse is subpoenaed to testify but believes she cannot ethically reveal certain patient information. She should first:
Answer: Consult with the hospital's legal counsel before the court date
Before a court date, the nurse should work with legal counsel to determine whether a motion to quash or a protective order is appropriate to address confidentiality concerns.
During direct examination, an attorney asks a forensic nurse a leading question. This is:
Answer: Generally not allowed on direct examination unless the witness is declared hostile
Leading questions—those suggesting the desired answer—are generally prohibited on direct examination but permitted during cross-examination.
When reviewing medical records on the stand, a forensic nurse should handle the documents by:
Answer: Referring to specific page numbers and entries for accuracy and transparency
Citing specific document pages and entries demonstrates precision and allows all parties to verify the accuracy of the witness's references in real time.
A forensic nurse's testimony is described as 'cumulative.' In legal terms, this means the testimony:
Answer: Repeats evidence already adequately covered by other witnesses or exhibits
Courts may exclude cumulative evidence under FRE 403 because it wastes time without adding probative value beyond evidence already presented.
Which behavior by a forensic nurse during cross-examination is considered most professionally appropriate?
Answer: Remaining calm, answering only what is asked, and avoiding elaboration
Effective cross-examination testimony requires composure, concise answers limited to what is asked, and avoidance of volunteering information that may be exploited.