Preservation of Forensic Evidence in Hospital Emergency Units: Development and Validation of a Nursing Protocol
Forensic nursing; Emergency nursing; Right to justice, Violence; Emergency services; Nursing care.
Introduction: The preservation of forensic evidence in emergency units is crucial for crime investigation. Forensic nursing, regulated in Brazil by COFEN Resolution 556/2017, aims to train professionals to identify, collect, and preserve evidence. However, there is a gap in the use of adequate protocols for this preservation in Brazil, which compromises justice. Method: The study used a quantitative methodological approach in four stages: literature review, development of a protocol, content validation by experts, and semantic and appearance validation. Scientific articles and international protocols were used as the basis for developing the instrument, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and expert committees for validation. Results: The literature review identified 23 documents discussing best practices for evidence preservation. Based on this, detailed protocols were developed regarding the necessary physical, material, and human resources. The protocol was validated by 15 experts, resulting in an effective instrument covering everything from biological evidence collection to care for forensic evidence in trauma situations. Discussion: The research revealed a lack of standardization in care for violence victims, which may lead to the loss of crucial evidence. The proposed protocol fills this gap by outlining procedures to ensure that evidence is properly preserved until transferred to the competent authorities. Conclusion: The implementation of the forensic nursing protocol in emergency units is essential to ensure justice and protect victims' rights. The validation of the instrument reinforces its applicability and importance in the training of forensic nurses in Brazil.