ENA TEST: Forensic Nursing in the ER.Master Your Exams: Comprehensive Study Guides Available

A. Visible injuries to the neck are usually present. B. It commonly causes incontinence. C. Point tenderness in the area rarely occurs. D. The patient usually can be discharged rapidly. B Patients who are strangled until they become unconscious or near-unconscious may experience a loss of bladder or bowel control. You should explain that incontinence commonly occurs with strangulation and reassure the patient that it is okay to share that information. Visible neck injuries after manual strangulation can be rare even though the risk of death from strangulation is high. Although bruises and fingernail scratch marks may be absent on the neck, you should assess for point tenderness, changes in voice quality, or pain on swallowing. With or without visible findings, patients who survive strangulation need hospitalization and close supervision with 24-hour pulse oximetry monitoring in a setting where they can be promptly intubated if respiratory complications develop. Which action best documents the type of injury or evidence collected? A. Take photographs. B. Complete a body diagram. C. Maintain the chain of custody. D. Follow the standardized collection process. Your correct answer: B The body diagram should clearly demonstrate the location and type of injury or evidence collected and provide a brief description. Photographs should never replace body diagrams because they may be lost or poorly representative. Ideally, use a body diagram or map and photographs in addition to the written or computerized nursing notes. The chain of custody documents the location and responsible party for the evidence at all times. It does not document the type of injury or evidence collected. Although following the standardized collection process allows for forensic evidence collection without contamination, it does not document the type of injury or evidence collected. Which action most accurately reflects the preservation of evidence? A. Collect the sheet from the emergency medical services stretcher and hospital stretcher. B. When removing clothing, cut through damaged areas to preserve gun residue. C. After the clothing is removed, pick up each piece and place it in a separate plastic bag. D. Expect law enforcement officials to document the articles of clothing removed from the patient. Your correct answer: A If possible, collect the sheet from the emergency medical services stretcher, hospital stretcher, or both because debris or trace evidence may have fallen from the patient. Do not cut through a damaged area of the clothing, such as an area with a bullet hole, because this can distort its appearance. To avoid contamination, do not place clothes directly on the floor. Instead, place two clean hospital sheets on the floor, one on top of the other, before the trauma patient's arrival. As articles of the patient's clothing are removed, lay each one separately on top of the two sheets. With gloved hands, place each piece of clothing or sheet in an individual clean paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. The person who collects the clothing is responsible for documenting the clothes that were collected and providing a brief description of each item. Who is the most appropriate person to photograph evidence? A. Emergency nurse B. Social worker C. Patient advocate D. Security guard Your correct answer: A Whenever possible, the emergency nurse should take the photographs and not delegate that task to a social worker or advocate. The emergency nurse is qualified to