Ethical and Professional Practice 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 Ethical and Professional Practice flashcards as text
A forensic nurse is subpoenaed to testify in court about a patient's injuries. Which ethical principle primarily guides the nurse's obligation to provide truthful testimony?
Answer: Veracity
Veracity, the duty to tell the truth, obligates forensic nurses to provide honest and accurate testimony even when it may be uncomfortable.
A forensic nurse examiner discovers that a colleague falsified documentation in a sexual assault case. What is the nurse's MOST appropriate first action?
Answer: Report the misconduct to the appropriate supervisor or ethics board
Professional accountability requires reporting misconduct through proper channels to protect patients, the integrity of evidence, and the nursing profession.
When conducting a forensic examination of a minor sexual assault victim, parental consent cannot be obtained. Under which circumstance may the exam proceed without parental consent?
Answer: When mandated reporting laws override consent requirements in an emergency
Mandated reporting statutes and emergency exceptions can legally authorize medical examination of minors when parental consent is unavailable and the child's welfare is at risk.
A forensic nurse is asked by law enforcement to release a patient's medical records immediately after an assault. What should the nurse do?
Answer: Obtain written patient authorization or a valid court order before releasing records
HIPAA requires patient authorization or a valid legal process such as a court order or subpoena before releasing protected health information to law enforcement.
Which of the following BEST describes the role of a forensic nurse when acting as an expert witness?
Answer: Provide objective, evidence-based opinion within the nurse's scope of expertise
An expert witness must remain objective and base testimony on professional knowledge and evidence, not on who retained them.
A forensic nurse suspects a hospitalized elder is being financially exploited by a family member. Which action reflects the nurse's ethical and legal obligation?
Answer: Report the suspicion to adult protective services per mandatory reporting laws
Mandatory reporting laws in all US states require healthcare workers to report suspected elder abuse, including financial exploitation, to adult protective services.
The principle of 'do no harm' as applied to forensic nursing MOST directly cautions against which of the following?
Answer: Conducting repeated or unnecessary forensic examinations that cause additional trauma
Non-maleficence in forensic nursing includes avoiding re-traumatization through unnecessary or repeated examinations that do not add clinical or forensic value.