Join us early for networking, coffee, and pastries

Nancy R. Downing, PhD, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, FAAFS, FAAN

Forensic nurses have long led the development of evidence-informed clinical practice, yet many are unfamiliar with the national forensic science standards infrastructure that supports consistency, quality, and credibility across forensic disciplines. This presentation introduces the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) and the Forensic Nursing Subcommittee, providing forensic nurses with practical strategies to engage in and implement standards development activities.

Participants will learn why forensic science standards matter, how they differ from clinical practice guidelines, and why the forensic nursing profession has a critical role in shaping standards related to forensic nursing science. The presentation will describe the mission and structure of OSAC, the development of the Forensic Nursing Subcommittee, and the pathway by which standards move from concept to implementation. This includes drafting by the subcommittee, scientific and technical review, public comment opportunities, voting processes, and eventual placement on the OSAC Registry, as well as parallel development through the Academy Standards Board (ASB) standards-development process.

Madison Ramirez, BSN, RN, CA-CP SANE

Sexual assault within religious and institutional settings carries far-reaching consequences that extend beyond individual survivors and impact entire communities. In environments where reputation, authority, and tradition are heavily protected, silence can allow abuse to continue for years while creating cycles of fear, mistrust, and generational trauma. This presentation explores the societal impact of institutional sexual assault and the dangers of minimizing, ignoring, or concealing abuse within trusted systems.

Using a forensic nursing perspective, attendees will examine how cultural influences, power dynamics, and institutional loyalty can contribute to silence and delayed accountability. Real-life examples of institutional sexual assault cases will be discussed to highlight common patterns, systemic failures, and the lasting effects on survivors, families, and communities.

Kara Morris RN, WHNP-BC, CA-SANE, SANE-A   

Paula Marks, RN, SANE-A

Chronic changes to anogenital structures can either mimic or predispose a patient to physical trauma. In this lecture, we will review anogenital anatomy and the effects of estrogen, or lack thereof. We will review ectropion, as well as vulvar dermatoses that may predispose someone to trauma, including lichen planus and lichen sclerosus. We will discuss comfort measures for those who live with these chronic conditions after a sexual assault.

Rachel Thomas MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, NPD-BC, CA-SANE,  CP-SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P, CEN, CTRN, CFRN, NRP   

Angela Dillahunty, RN, CA-SANE, CP SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P, GFN-C

Patients who experience interpersonal violence often receive immediate medical and forensic care during the acute phase of their crisis; however, the needs of survivors frequently extend far beyond the initial examination.
Specialized follow-up clinics provide continuity of care for patients affected by sexual assault, physical assault, strangulation, child abuse, human trafficking, and other forms of violence. Through coordinated medical assessment, injury reassessment, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, mental health screening, safety planning, documentation review, and connection to community resources, these clinics serve as a bridge between acute crisis response and long-term recovery.

Beth Willhite, DNP, MHA, RN, CPHQ

Forensic nursing is a critical field in which providing survivor-centered, trauma-informed care is essential. By creating strong foundations with the forensic nursing programs through coaching and mentorship the forensic nurses are then better able to care for survivors of assault.

Under the guidance of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force and the Texas Office of the Governor, the Coaching for Quality program was created by the Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing at Texas A&M Health to enhance the quality of care provided to survivors of sexual assault by strengthening the forensic nursing program.

Through partnerships with new and established forensic nursing programs, the Coaching for Quality team collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen and sustain forensic nursing services across Texas. Utilizing a modified Eisenhower Matrix approach and evidence-based quality improvement methodologies, programs are supported through targeted improvement initiatives while working toward self-identified goals and priorities.

Qualitative feedback shows that partnering forensic nursing programs have more organized processes and have benefitted from the direction and advice provided by the Coaching for Quality team. Quantitatively, forensic programs have been able to add staff members due to the increase in forensic consultations and have provided 50+ hours of education to external agencies about forensic nursing.

Join us early for networking, coffee, and pastries

Rebecca Vieh

An overall update including trends/stats for the DPS Statewide Sexual Assault Evidence Programs which include Kit Tracking, Non-Reported, Limited Consent. I would like to try and identify a case study to talk about as well. Open to presenting on any other topics the TCFN board thinks would be beneficial for the attendees.

Stacey Henley MSN, RN, SANE-P

Obtaining a medical forensic history from a child requires specialized communication skills, developmental awareness, and a trauma-informed approach that differs significantly from adult history taking. Pediatric patients are not simply “small adults”; their language abilities, memory, understanding of body parts and ability to describe time, sequence and context are shaped by growth and development. In addition, children often depend on a parent for comfort, safety, and consent, which can influence disclosure, communication, and the child’s sense of security during the exam process.
This presentation will explore best practices for eliciting a medically relevant history from children in a way that is accurate, nonleading, and developmentally appropriate. Emphasis will be placed on adjusting language to match the child’s developmental level, using open-ended questions, recognizing common limitations in pediatric vocabulary, and understanding how cognition, attention, and emotional development affect disclosure. This session will also address the unique role of parents or caregivers in the pediatric exam, including how to manage their presence, reduce anxiety, and preserve the child’s voice in the forensic exam process.
Participants will gain practical strategies for conducting child-focused dialogues that support both medical care and forensic documentation while minimizing re-traumatization. The presentation will highlight the importance of collaboration, patience, and flexibility when working with pediatric patients who may communicate indirectly, inconsistently, or in developmentally expected ways. By strengthening these skills, forensic nurses can improve the quality of history gathering, enhance case documentation, and better support the physical and emotional well-being of children who have experienced sexual trauma.

Thank you to UNT Health College of Nursing!

Beth Maeker BSN, RN, CA-CP SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P

Shanna Whitfield-Moore, MS

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant yet often under recognized driver of Emergency Department (ED) utilization. Research shows that 14% of women treated in EDs present with IPV related conditions, representing more than 1.4 million visits annually. Despite this volume, most EDs lack specialized training to address survivors’ medical, legal, and emotional needs beyond treating acute injuries. As a result, many IPV survivors navigate fragmented systems with limited support during a critical window of vulnerability.
To address these gaps, Texas Health Resources and The Archway of Tarrant County developed a collaborative response model grounded in the successful framework used in sexual assault advocacy programs. The model integrates forensic nursing expertise with real time IPV advocacy, aiming to improve communication, continuity of care, and access to safety resources.
A pilot program launched in a high volume Fort Worth ED implemented a three step cascading response:
1. ED identification and treatment of immediate injuries.
2. Forensic nurse consultation for medical forensic assessment and documentation.
3. Bedside advocacy to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, and linkage to community services.
Since its inception, the program has served more than 500 IPV survivors. Early outcomes indicate increased patient engagement, higher acceptance of advocacy services, improved interdisciplinary communication, and greater staff confidence in managing complex IPV cases. Survivors report feeling more supported, informed, and empowered during their ED visit.
This presentation will review program development, implementation strategies, training components, and lessons learned. Attendees will gain practical guidance for building sustainable partnerships between forensic healthcare teams and domestic violence agencies to strengthen survivor centered care across the continuum.

Ebony S. Gebrehawariat BSN, RN 

Despite consistently ranking among the most trusted professions, nurses continue to face barriers to active participation in the policy-making process. Gaps in policy literacy, advocacy confidence, and coalition-building skills limit nursing’s ability to influence legislative agendas that directly impact practice environments, patient outcomes, and population health. The Central Texas (CTX) Nursing & Stakeholder Coalition Building Summit was developed as a programmatic innovation to close these gaps through a structured, evidence-informed learning experience. The purpose of this project was to design, implement, and evaluate a regional coalition-building and policy education initiative that strengthens nurses’ understanding of the Texas legislative process and enhances their capacity for advocacy and policy influence.

Cherish Morris, MAS, BSN, RN, CA-SANE

Forensic nurses care for patients in the immediate aftermath of life-altering trauma. While this work is meaningful and essential, repeated exposure to trauma narratives, high-stakes documentation, legal involvement, call burden, and system barriers can affect the nurse’s professional quality of life.

Attendees will gain insight into their own levels of compassion satisfaction, perceived support, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and moral distress through completion of the ProQOL Health self-assessment. They will also learn to differentiate commonly blended concepts such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress, moral distress, and compassion fatigue, then connect those concepts to the realities of forensic nursing practice. They will also gain practical, trauma-informed strategies to support recovery before, during, and after difficult cases.

This session offers forensic nurses a practical, reflective, and restorative space to name what they carry, recognize what supports them, and build sustainable tools for continuing this vital work with steadiness, compassion, and self-protection.