Forensic Evidence Collection & Documentation Flashcards

In a suspected elder abuse case, a forensic nurse notes multiple bruises in different stages of healing. This finding is significant because it suggests:

Answer: Repeated traumatic events occurring over time rather than a single incident

Multiple bruises in varying stages of healing suggest repetitive injury at different points in time, which is a key indicator of ongoing physical abuse.

When collecting foreign material (soil, glass fragments) from a trauma patient's wounds, the forensic nurse should use:

Answer: Clean forceps or swabs to collect material into separate labeled containers

Foreign material should be collected with clean instruments into individually labeled containers to preserve each specimen's location-specific evidentiary value.

A forensic nurse discovers that an evidence seal on a kit has been broken prior to her receiving it for documentation review. She should:

Answer: Document the compromised seal, note it on the chain of custody, and notify the appropriate supervisor

A broken evidence seal must be documented immediately and noted on the chain of custody form, as any tampering or seal compromise must be transparently recorded.

Which of the following best describes the nurse's role when using a body diagram in forensic documentation?

Answer: They provide a visual representation of injury location to supplement written descriptions and photographs

Body diagrams are a supplemental documentation tool that visually maps injury location and orientation to complement written descriptions and photographs.

A forensic nurse is asked to collect a DNA buccal swab from a suspect by law enforcement. Before proceeding, the nurse must confirm:

Answer: Proper legal authorization (consent or court order) has been obtained for the collection

Collecting DNA from a suspect without consent or a court-ordered warrant violates Fourth Amendment rights and can render evidence inadmissible.

When conducting a forensic examination on an intoxicated patient who cannot provide informed consent, the forensic nurse should:

Answer: Provide only emergency medical care and document the situation; re-approach consent when patient has capacity

Emergency medical treatment is provided, but forensic evidence collection requires informed consent that must wait until the patient regains decision-making capacity when possible.

A forensic nurse is completing documentation when she realizes she omitted a finding from the original record. The correct action is to:

Answer: Add a late entry addendum with the date, time, and omitted finding with explanation

Late entry addenda with the current date and time, the original examination date, and the reason for the addendum are the legally correct method for adding omitted forensic documentation.