Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 82%
Simulated
The nurse is working in the emergency department of a small local hospital when a client with multiple stab wounds arrives by ambulance. Which action by the nurse is contraindicated when handling potential legal evidence?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Potential evidence is never released to the family to take home. Basic rules for handling evidence include initiating a chain of custody log to track handling and movement of evidence, limiting the number of people with access to the evidence, and carefully removing clothing and placing personal belongings in a labeled, sealed paper bag to avoid destroying evidence. This also usually includes cutting clothes along seams, while avoiding areas where there are obvious holes or tears.