SANE A CERTIFICATION FORENSIC NURSING
EXAM |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A 28-year-old female presents to the ED at 11 PM on Friday stating she was SA last
Saturday night (6 days ago) at a party. Shewas drinking alcohol, also drugged because she
has no memory.. She did not shower after the assault- has showered daily since. worn and
washed clothing from that night. Shes "finally ready to deal with this." She is uncertain to
report to LE. She complains of vaginal soreness and dysuria.
What is the MOST appropriate initial action by the SANE?
A. Explain that evidence collection is no longer viable at 6 days post-assault and offer only
medical care
B. Contact law enforcement immediately since drug-facilitated sexual assault is suspected
C. Proceed with a complete medical forensic examination including medical screening,
history, examination, and collection of viable evidence
D. Refer to gynecology for the vaginal symptoms and defer the forensic examination
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Proceed with a complete medical forensic examination including medical screening,
history, examination, and collection of viable evidence
Question 2
C: The National Protocol prioritizes patient-centered care, regardless of timing. At 6 days
post-assault:
Reference samples (blood, saliva) remain viable for DNA.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Medical evaluation is essential (STI screening, pregnancy test, dysuria).
Photo documentation of visible injuries is appropriate.
A detailed forensic history supports legal processes.
Vaginal swabs may not yield DNA, but evidence could remain. The examiner must assess
what's appropriate—never assume nothing can be done. Trauma-informed care is essential,
regardless of evidence viability. Dysuria could indicate a UTI, STI, or injury needing
treatment.
A: This violates patient-centered care:
Reference samples are still needed.
Telling a patient they waited "too long" is retraumatizing.
Medical care should always be provided.
Healing injuries can still be documented.
A history is valuable, even without physical evidence. Evidence windows are guidelines, not
cutoffs. This reflects a misunderstanding of forensic nursing, which focuses on holistic care,
not just evidence collection.
B: This violates VAWA and autonomy:
Patients can't be required to report to law enforcement for exams.
SANEs need explicit consent to contact law enforcement.
Drug-facilitated assault doesn't override autonomy.
Toxicology isn't viable at 6 days.
This may cause the patient to leave without care.
D: This fragments care and delays urgent assessment:
SANEs provide full medical screening.
Dysuria needs immediate evaluation.
Referral delays care.
The patient requested forensic evaluation.
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
, Care should be coordinated.
Question 3
A 22-year-old female is brought to the ED by police at 3 AM. LE found her disoriented
outside a bar stating "someone raped me." She is highly intoxicated, slurring words,
unsteady gait, and has vomited twice. Her BAC is 0.24%. Repeating she wants to "get this
over with" and go home. Agitated when explained the exam process and states "just do it
quick." She signs the consent form with difficulty holding the pen. During the hx, her
answers are inconsistent and she falls asleep mid-sentence twice.
What is the MOST appropriate action?
A. Proceed with the exam since she verbalized consent and signed the consent form
B. Delay the exam until she is sober enough to provide informed consent, even if this
extends beyond optimal evidence collection windows
C. Have LE authorize the exam since she is unable to provide consent
D. Collect time-sensitive evidence only (swabs, clothing) and complete the full exam when
she sobers
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Delay the exam until she is sober enough to provide informed consent, even if this
extends beyond optimal evidence collection windows
Question 4
B: The National Protocol states patients must have capacity for informed consent:
At 0.24% BAC (3x legal limit), this patient lacks capacity to understand or consent.
She cannot stay awake or provide consistent information, showing severe impairment.
Informed consent requires understanding risks, benefits, and alternatives—she cannot do
this.
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
EXAM |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A 28-year-old female presents to the ED at 11 PM on Friday stating she was SA last
Saturday night (6 days ago) at a party. Shewas drinking alcohol, also drugged because she
has no memory.. She did not shower after the assault- has showered daily since. worn and
washed clothing from that night. Shes "finally ready to deal with this." She is uncertain to
report to LE. She complains of vaginal soreness and dysuria.
What is the MOST appropriate initial action by the SANE?
A. Explain that evidence collection is no longer viable at 6 days post-assault and offer only
medical care
B. Contact law enforcement immediately since drug-facilitated sexual assault is suspected
C. Proceed with a complete medical forensic examination including medical screening,
history, examination, and collection of viable evidence
D. Refer to gynecology for the vaginal symptoms and defer the forensic examination
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Proceed with a complete medical forensic examination including medical screening,
history, examination, and collection of viable evidence
Question 2
C: The National Protocol prioritizes patient-centered care, regardless of timing. At 6 days
post-assault:
Reference samples (blood, saliva) remain viable for DNA.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Medical evaluation is essential (STI screening, pregnancy test, dysuria).
Photo documentation of visible injuries is appropriate.
A detailed forensic history supports legal processes.
Vaginal swabs may not yield DNA, but evidence could remain. The examiner must assess
what's appropriate—never assume nothing can be done. Trauma-informed care is essential,
regardless of evidence viability. Dysuria could indicate a UTI, STI, or injury needing
treatment.
A: This violates patient-centered care:
Reference samples are still needed.
Telling a patient they waited "too long" is retraumatizing.
Medical care should always be provided.
Healing injuries can still be documented.
A history is valuable, even without physical evidence. Evidence windows are guidelines, not
cutoffs. This reflects a misunderstanding of forensic nursing, which focuses on holistic care,
not just evidence collection.
B: This violates VAWA and autonomy:
Patients can't be required to report to law enforcement for exams.
SANEs need explicit consent to contact law enforcement.
Drug-facilitated assault doesn't override autonomy.
Toxicology isn't viable at 6 days.
This may cause the patient to leave without care.
D: This fragments care and delays urgent assessment:
SANEs provide full medical screening.
Dysuria needs immediate evaluation.
Referral delays care.
The patient requested forensic evaluation.
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
, Care should be coordinated.
Question 3
A 22-year-old female is brought to the ED by police at 3 AM. LE found her disoriented
outside a bar stating "someone raped me." She is highly intoxicated, slurring words,
unsteady gait, and has vomited twice. Her BAC is 0.24%. Repeating she wants to "get this
over with" and go home. Agitated when explained the exam process and states "just do it
quick." She signs the consent form with difficulty holding the pen. During the hx, her
answers are inconsistent and she falls asleep mid-sentence twice.
What is the MOST appropriate action?
A. Proceed with the exam since she verbalized consent and signed the consent form
B. Delay the exam until she is sober enough to provide informed consent, even if this
extends beyond optimal evidence collection windows
C. Have LE authorize the exam since she is unable to provide consent
D. Collect time-sensitive evidence only (swabs, clothing) and complete the full exam when
she sobers
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Delay the exam until she is sober enough to provide informed consent, even if this
extends beyond optimal evidence collection windows
Question 4
B: The National Protocol states patients must have capacity for informed consent:
At 0.24% BAC (3x legal limit), this patient lacks capacity to understand or consent.
She cannot stay awake or provide consistent information, showing severe impairment.
Informed consent requires understanding risks, benefits, and alternatives—she cannot do
this.
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
