by Pat Bemis, RN , www.forensicsciencefornurses.com.  All the victims clothing and jewelry and all pre-hospital linens and disposable supplied used on the victim are collected. Nothing is discarded or returned to the family. All items that accompany the patient into the ED are considered forensic evidence. Only law enforcement can determine evidentiary value and return items to the patient and/or family. All items are placed in paper bags and closed with evidence tape. Documentation of how the patient’s belongings were distributed is written in the patient’s record. A nurse stays with the evidence until it is collected by a law enforcement officer

Related Posts