37721 Forensic Evidence Collection for Texas Nurses Part 2

Course overview

Discussion of the forensic evidence collection for Texas nurses, including the prioritization for stabilizing a sexual assault victim, the basic steps in performing a forensic medical exam, differentiating between the protocols for adult patients and that of adolescents and children, and interventions based on age or population. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) requires that any nurse who is employed in an emergency room (ER) setting, including any nurse who could float to an ER or have shifts scheduled in an ER, as well as any nurse employed under contractual, temporary, per diem, agency, traveling, or another employment relationship whose duties include working in an ER must complete at least two contact hours of CNE relevant to forensic evidence collection and age- or population-specific nursing interventions that may be required by other laws and/or are necessary in order to assure evidence collection that meets requirements under the Government Code 420.031 regarding use of an Attorney General-approved evidence collection kit and protocol. Content may also include documentation, history-taking skills, use of sexual assault kit, survivor symptoms, and emotional and psychological support interventions for victims. This is a one-time requirement within two years of the initial date of the nurses employment in an ER setting. This two-part program meets the requirements set forth by the BON. Part two of this program discusses the prioritization of stabilization for the forensic patient, basic steps in performing a forensic medical exam, differences between the adult/adolescent and prepubescent protocols, and interventions based on age or population.