The Forensic Nurse

The Northside Hospital - Forsyth, Sexual Assualt Nurse Examiner program is proud to announce that they have become the only SANE  program in the state of Georgia to use employ the use of SDFI technology.  

Secure Digital Forensic Imaging technology offers digital imaging clarity that is on the cutting edge. This technology is also fully compliant with federal rules of evidence, ensuring that the images stored will be admissible in court if necessary.

The use of digital forensic photography is steadily gaining in popularity almost everywhere, but one item that is almost universally raised is the authenticity of these photographs.

Digital Photographs are much easier to manipulate or alter than a traditional photograph. I’m sure that just about everyone reading this has seen some kind of ‘photoshop’ doctor’d image. From the supermodel airbrushing, or cellulite adding for shock value, to the bin laden doing various activities, the use of digital photograph editing is widespread.  (Browse thru your local supermarket checkout tabloids if you would like some fresh examples.)

But not all altering of digital photographs is necessarily harmful, at least in intent. Take for example, the straightening or cropping of a photograph to help highlight that perfect shot, or the masks and filters that take the annoying red eye out of a photograph caused by the lense flash.

These are often innocent “enhancements” to photographs to make the captured subject more pronounced, or centered into the picture. But be careful treading into this arena if these photographs are going to be used in a criminal or forensic proceeding.  

Image Enhancements

Any process intended to improve the visual appearance of the image falls under the category of an image enhancement. That includes contrast, brightness, color adjustments, color rebalancing, cropping, bluring, dodging and burning.

Unless the photograph is admitted and agreed to by the stipulation of both parties, the party attempting to admit the photograph into evidence must be prepared to offer testimony that the photograph is an accurate representation. Or more to the point, be prepared to testify in court that the image being submitted into evidence is accurate and unaltered in any way.

Federal Rules of Evidence, Article X (Contents of Writings, Recordings, and Photographs), Rule 101 defines writings and recordings to include magnetic, mechanical or electronic recordings. Rule 101 states that if data are stored in a computer or similar device, any printout or other output readable by sight, shown to reflect data accurately, is an “original.” A “duplicate” is defined as a counterpart produced by the same impression as the original…by mechanical or electronic re-recording … or by other equivalent techniques which accurately reproduces the original. Rule 103 (Admissibility of Duplicates) states a duplicate is admissible to the same extent as an original unless a genuine question is raised as to the authenticity of the original or in the circumstances it would be unfair to admit the duplicate in lieu of the original. This means a photograph can be stored digitally in a computer, that a digital photograph stored in a computer is considered an original, and that any exact copy of the digital photograph is admissible as evidence.

In part Two, we will discuss the proper chain of custody for digital evidence

The IAFN does allow for the re-take of the certification exam. below is an excerpt from their website regarding the re-examination process.

A candidate who does not pass the examination has one year to re-take the examination at a reduced fee.  The fee is $150 for IAFN members and $275 for nonmembers. A candidate who does not pass the second examination is considered failed.  Any repeat examination will require completion of a new application and payment of the full fee.A total score of approximately 75% correct is required to pass the certification examination.  Candidates will be notified of their scores approximately four (4) weeks after test administration. C-NET will forward all examination scores to the candidate as follows: 1.     A total score will be provided for candidates        who successfully pass the examination. 2.     A total score and sub-scores in all the major        test areas of concentration will be provided for        candidates who do not pass the examination.

Most forensic nurses, work out of an emergency room setting or in a freestanding clinic. The Emergency Nurses Association, or ENA published an official statement on their stance of forensic evidence collection by nurses in the emergency room setting for Victims of sexual assault, child maltreatment, elder abuse and other violent incidents are often brought to the emergency department (ED) for care.

· ENA believes that it is the emergency nurse’s role not only to provide physical and emotional

· ENA supports collaboration with emergency physicians, social service, and law enforcement

· ENA encourages emergency nurses to become familiar with the concepts and skills of

This week a 911 operator in  Nashville, Tennessee was been fired after he was recorded on a taped 911 call stating that he didn’t “give a s—” about what happened to a woman who had just called to report her ex-boyfriend was threatening her.

Frank Roth, the man who made the statement didnt actually utter those words to the woman who called in. According to Emergency Communications Center spokeswoman Amanda Sluss said, Roth was in training during the February incident and was fired a month later.

Roth made the comments after promising to the woman that police would arrive shortly to assist the woman who was reporting her ex-boyfriend held her at knifepoint and later was threatening her.

The statement was made after hanging up with her but while still being recorded, he said, “I really don’t give a s— what happens to you.”

It took the police nearly three hours to respond to the scene after the initial 911 call.

So why should you give a s—?

According to the American Institute on Domestic Violence, health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking, and homicide by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year.

Intimate partner violence victims lose nearly 8.0 million days of paid work each year - the equivalent of more than 32,000 full-time jobs and nearly 5.6 million days of household productivity!

Indirectly we are all shouldering a much greater burder than many of us realize. As a result of domestic violence, you will pay greater cost in health care coverage, longer wait times in the Emergency room, police diversion to respond to these domestic assaults, other co-workers in the office need to work harder to pick up the slack when victims are hospitalized, or unable to attend work.

More Statistics on Domestic Violence from AIDV:

Your Corporate Peers

68% of senior executives surveyed agreed that their company’s financial performance would benefit from addressing the issue of domestic violence among its employees.

94% of corporate security directors rank domestic violence as a high security risk.

78% of Human Resource Directors identify domestic violence as a substantial employee problem.

56% of corporate leaders are personally aware of specific employees who are affected by domestic violence.

60% of senior executives said that domestic violence has a harmful effect on their company’s productivity.

The Human Factor

85-95% of all domestic violence victims are female.

Over 500,00 women are stalked by an intimate partner each year.

5.3 million women are abused each year.
1,232 women are killed each year by an intimate partner.
Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.

Women are more likely to be attacked by someone they know rather than by a stranger.

Domestic Violence in the Workplace

Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace.

Of the approximately 1.7 million incidents of workplace violence that occur in the US every year, 18,700 are committed by an intimate partner: a current or former spouse, lover, partner, or boyfriend/girlfriend.

Of Battered Workers:

96% experience problems at work due to abuse

74% are harassed while at work by their abuser

56% are late to work

28% leave work early

54% miss entire days of work

Forensic Nursing has been around for many years now, but it wasn’t until 2002 when the Forensic Nursing Certification Board officially came into being. Its’ mission: “to promote the highest standards of forensic nursing practice through the development, implementation, coordination and evaluation of all aspects of the certification and recertification process”.

The Forensic Nursing Certification Board, or FBCB offers certifications of SANE-A and SANE-P. SANE-A and SANE-P are the earned credentials which recognize that the highest standards of forensic nursing for sexual assault nurse examiners has been achieved. Nurse Examiners can become certified by meeting eligibility requirements and successfully completing the SANE-A or SANE-P examination. Re-certification is available by examination or documented continuing education over the three year period.

Sometimes the professionals who help victims of sexual assualt may inadventently experience injuries as the result of trying to help those who have been victimized. Not physical injuries, but the emotional injuries, just as real as those experienced by their victims.

Dealing with horrific and traumatized victims on a daily basis can drain on the mental strength of these professionals. Forensic Nurses, child protective services, prosecutors, therapists, and law enforcement officials are often exposed daily to the kind of nightmares that many of us can’t even, or maybe just don’t want to think about.

One website called www.silentinjuries.com is dedicated to trying to help support those who support others. They specialize in trying to help SANE’s and other professionals of sexual abuse to deal with relationship problems, depression, sleep deprivation, and social issues that they may experience as a result of their work.

Friday, May 16, 2008 (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM)

Event Web Address: www.forensicconsultofeasttn.com
Event Sponsor: Forensic Consultants of East TN

Contact Person: Vicki Sickau
Contact Phone Number: (865) 202-7044
Contact Email: vsickau@forensicconsultofeasttn.com

Event CEUs: Yes
Event Fee: $175.00

Training Event?: Yes

Description: How to collect evidence and other tips for how to practice forensics in your nursing practice. Basic course for those that are not experienced in forensics or for those that need some refreshing.

Meta

• Login
• WordPress
• Mandigo theme