Forensic Evaluation, Documentation, and Evidence Collection
This domain tests accurate, objective evaluation and documentation, plus evidence handling from collection through transfer. The exam favors measurable descriptions, proper packaging, and an intact chain of custody.
Documentation standards
- Write objective, descriptive, measured findings; avoid conclusory words such as "rape," "assault," or "defensive."
- Record size in centimeters, color, shape, borders, approximation, tenderness, and exact location on a body diagram.
- Quote patient statements verbatim; note time, personnel, actions, and consent.
- Photograph with a scale, consistent lighting, and consent; document who took images, when, and where they are stored.
Evidence collection
- Use standardized kits and follow jurisdictional protocol for DNA and toxicology timing.
- Air-dry biological evidence; package in paper, not plastic; avoid heat and moisture.
- Label, seal, and initial each item; document every transfer with date, time, from, to, purpose, and signatures.
- Store evidence securely and release only to authorized persons with documented authority.
Worked example
"Bruise on right arm" versus "3 x 2 cm purple-to-yellow ecchymosis on the lateral right upper arm, 5 cm below the acromion, irregular borders, nontender." The second description is measurable, localizes the finding, and avoids attributing mechanism. Color may suggest age but does not prove timing, so the nurse describes rather than concludes.
Traps that cost marks
- Interpreting mechanism, such as "from a fist."
- Omitting the patient's own words or using vague terms like "multiple injuries."
- Photographing without scale, consent, or documentation of storage.
- Placing damp biological evidence in plastic or breaking the chain of custody.