AFN-BC 2026 Study Guide: Advanced Forensic
Nursing Certification Practice Questions
Answer Explanations & Evidence Collection,
Trauma Assessment, Legal Issues & Clinical
Care Exam Preparation
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE COLLECTION
1. When collecting forensic evidence from a patient, the most
important principle is:
A) Collect evidence before providing life-saving treatment
B) Maintain chain of custody and prevent contamination
C) Discard evidence if the patient refuses
D) Collect evidence only with police present
Answer: B
Rationale: Chain of custody is the legal cornerstone of forensic
evidence. It documents who handled evidence, when, and how—
ensuring admissibility in court. Life-saving treatment always takes
priority (A is wrong). Evidence should be preserved even if patient
initially refuses (C is wrong). Police presence is not always required for
collection (D is wrong).
2. The appropriate collection technique for DNA evidence from a bite
mark is:
A) Wet swab with sterile water
B) Dry swab followed by wet swab (double swab technique)
,C) Collect only with a scalpel
D) Use Betadine first, then swab
Answer: B
Rationale: The double swab technique (dry then wet) maximizes DNA
recovery from skin surfaces. Wet swab alone (A) is incomplete. Scalpel
(C) causes tissue damage. Betadine (D) contaminates and degrades
DNA.
3. How long should clothing be air-dried before packaging?
A) 5 minutes
B) Until completely dry, typically 1–2 hours
C) 24 hours minimum
D) Clothing should be packaged wet
Answer: B
Rationale: Clothing must be completely air-dried to prevent bacterial
growth and DNA degradation. 5 minutes (A) is insufficient. 24 hours (C)
is excessive. Packaging wet (D) promotes mold and degradation.
4. The best container for packaging a wet bloodstained garment is:
A) Plastic bag sealed tightly
B) Paper bag after complete drying
C) Glass jar
D) Vacuum-sealed bag
Answer: B
Rationale: Paper bags allow airflow and prevent moisture buildup.
Plastic (A) traps moisture and promotes degradation. Glass jars (C) are
,impractical and breakable. Vacuum sealing (D) is not standard forensic
practice.
5. When swabbing a suspected seminal fluid stain, the correct
sequence is:
A) Wet swab with distilled water, then dry swab
B) Dry swab first, then wet swab with sterile water
C) Use only one swab with saline
D) Swab with bleach solution
Answer: B
Rationale: The double swab technique (dry first, then wet) is standard
for biological stains. Distilled water (A) is acceptable but sequence is
wrong. One swab (C) may not collect enough. Bleach (D) destroys DNA.
6. The chain of custody form must include all EXCEPT:
A) Name of person collecting evidence
B) Date and time of collection
C) Patient's medical diagnosis
D) Description of evidence
Answer: C
Rationale: Chain of custody documents evidence handling—not
medical diagnoses. Names (A), dates/times (B), and descriptions (D) are
all required elements.
7. A forensic nurse should collect a toxicology sample in:
, A) Red top tube
B) Gray top tube (sodium fluoride)
C) Lavender top tube
D) Green top tube
Answer: B
Rationale: Gray top tubes contain sodium fluoride, which preserves
blood alcohol and toxins. Red top (A) has no preservative. Lavender (C)
is for CBC. Green (D) is for chemistry.
8. The maximum time for collecting a blood alcohol sample after
injury is:
A) 12 hours
B) 24 hours
C) 48 hours
D) No time limit
Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol metabolizes over time; 24 hours is the generally
accepted window for forensic accuracy. 12 hours (A) is too short. 48
hours (C) is too long. No limit (D) is incorrect.
9. When documenting a wound, the nurse should describe:
A) Only the size
B) Size, shape, location, edges, and surrounding tissue
C) Only the location
D) Only the type of wound
Answer: B
Rationale: Comprehensive wound documentation includes size, shape,
Nursing Certification Practice Questions
Answer Explanations & Evidence Collection,
Trauma Assessment, Legal Issues & Clinical
Care Exam Preparation
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE COLLECTION
1. When collecting forensic evidence from a patient, the most
important principle is:
A) Collect evidence before providing life-saving treatment
B) Maintain chain of custody and prevent contamination
C) Discard evidence if the patient refuses
D) Collect evidence only with police present
Answer: B
Rationale: Chain of custody is the legal cornerstone of forensic
evidence. It documents who handled evidence, when, and how—
ensuring admissibility in court. Life-saving treatment always takes
priority (A is wrong). Evidence should be preserved even if patient
initially refuses (C is wrong). Police presence is not always required for
collection (D is wrong).
2. The appropriate collection technique for DNA evidence from a bite
mark is:
A) Wet swab with sterile water
B) Dry swab followed by wet swab (double swab technique)
,C) Collect only with a scalpel
D) Use Betadine first, then swab
Answer: B
Rationale: The double swab technique (dry then wet) maximizes DNA
recovery from skin surfaces. Wet swab alone (A) is incomplete. Scalpel
(C) causes tissue damage. Betadine (D) contaminates and degrades
DNA.
3. How long should clothing be air-dried before packaging?
A) 5 minutes
B) Until completely dry, typically 1–2 hours
C) 24 hours minimum
D) Clothing should be packaged wet
Answer: B
Rationale: Clothing must be completely air-dried to prevent bacterial
growth and DNA degradation. 5 minutes (A) is insufficient. 24 hours (C)
is excessive. Packaging wet (D) promotes mold and degradation.
4. The best container for packaging a wet bloodstained garment is:
A) Plastic bag sealed tightly
B) Paper bag after complete drying
C) Glass jar
D) Vacuum-sealed bag
Answer: B
Rationale: Paper bags allow airflow and prevent moisture buildup.
Plastic (A) traps moisture and promotes degradation. Glass jars (C) are
,impractical and breakable. Vacuum sealing (D) is not standard forensic
practice.
5. When swabbing a suspected seminal fluid stain, the correct
sequence is:
A) Wet swab with distilled water, then dry swab
B) Dry swab first, then wet swab with sterile water
C) Use only one swab with saline
D) Swab with bleach solution
Answer: B
Rationale: The double swab technique (dry first, then wet) is standard
for biological stains. Distilled water (A) is acceptable but sequence is
wrong. One swab (C) may not collect enough. Bleach (D) destroys DNA.
6. The chain of custody form must include all EXCEPT:
A) Name of person collecting evidence
B) Date and time of collection
C) Patient's medical diagnosis
D) Description of evidence
Answer: C
Rationale: Chain of custody documents evidence handling—not
medical diagnoses. Names (A), dates/times (B), and descriptions (D) are
all required elements.
7. A forensic nurse should collect a toxicology sample in:
, A) Red top tube
B) Gray top tube (sodium fluoride)
C) Lavender top tube
D) Green top tube
Answer: B
Rationale: Gray top tubes contain sodium fluoride, which preserves
blood alcohol and toxins. Red top (A) has no preservative. Lavender (C)
is for CBC. Green (D) is for chemistry.
8. The maximum time for collecting a blood alcohol sample after
injury is:
A) 12 hours
B) 24 hours
C) 48 hours
D) No time limit
Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol metabolizes over time; 24 hours is the generally
accepted window for forensic accuracy. 12 hours (A) is too short. 48
hours (C) is too long. No limit (D) is incorrect.
9. When documenting a wound, the nurse should describe:
A) Only the size
B) Size, shape, location, edges, and surrounding tissue
C) Only the location
D) Only the type of wound
Answer: B
Rationale: Comprehensive wound documentation includes size, shape,
