THE ROLE OF FORENSIC NURSING IN THE COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE IN CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE: INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction:Forensic Nursing is a specialized field that combines health and legal knowledge, acting in the identification of victims and perpetrators, as well as in the collection and preservation of evidence in cases of violence. In Brazil, this practice occurs in hospitals, emergency services, and legal medicine institutes. Sexual violence is a serious violation of human rights and a public health problem with significant physical, psychological, and social impacts on victims. Despite its strategic importance, forensic nursing still faces challenges such as the lack of specific training, absence of standardized protocols, and inadequate infrastructure, which may compromise both evidence preservation and the provision of humanized care. Objective:To analyze the role of forensic nursing in the collection of evidence in cases of sexual violence, highlighting its importance in evidence preservation and in the humanization ofcare.Methodology:An integrative literature review was carried out between September and October 2025 in the SciELO, BVS, and LILACS databases. The descriptors “Forensic Nursing,” “Sexual Violence,” “Evidence Collection,” and “Criminal Traces” were used with the Boolean operator AND. Inclusion criteria: full-text articles published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, available in full and addressing the proposed theme. Data were organized, analyzed, and synthesized according to the selected literature.Results and Discussion:Five articles were included, demonstrating the multifaceted role of forensic nurses: providing humanized care, performing detailed anamnesis, collecting and preserving biological and non-biological traces, documenting findings, and maintaining the chain of custody. The studies highlighted the benefits of implementing specialized models (e.g., SANE), including improved quality of care, reduced re-victimization, and increased satisfaction among victims and health professionals. However, common challenges remain, such as lack of standardized protocols, insufficient training, structural limitations, and work overload, which may compromise evidence integrity and the articulation with the justice system. Furthermore, the literature emphasizes the need to expand forensic nursing practices to include different victim profiles (men, elderly) and to adapt communication and collection protocols to diverse contexts. Conclusion:Forensic nursing plays a crucial role in preserving evidence and ensuring ethical and humanized care for victims of sexual violence. Consolidating this practice requires the standardization of institutional protocols, continuous professional training, and intersectoral collaboration between health, security, and justice systems. These measures are essential to improve evidence quality, protect victims’ rights, and strengthen the effectiveness of criminal investigations.