OBJECTIVES

• Explain the importance of medical chaperone (MC) presence during sensitive portions of the medical forensic exam (MFE) and define sensitive exams and the role of medical chaperones
• Describe the principles of MC policy development and identify essential components of forensic-nurse and MC training
• Identify key components of patient education related to the MC process and discuss patient preferences regarding MC presence during the MFE

PRESENTER(S) 

Dr. Kelly Berishaj, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, AFN-C, SANE-A, IVSE-C, DF-AFN holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Oakland University (2013), MSN in Nursing Education and Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate from the University of Detroit Mercy (2009), and a BSN from Madonna University (2000). She holds certification as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Advanced Forensic Nurse, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in the Adult/Adolescent population, and Interpersonal Violence Strangulation Examiner. She is an Associate Professor and has been faculty in the Oakland University School of Nursing since 2007 serving as the founding director of the Graduate Forensic Nursing Program. Dr. Berishaj is a forensic nurse specializing in sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and strangulation. She is actively engaged in the Academy of Forensic Nursing and American Academy of Forensic Sciences- Forensic Nursing Science Section. She has published and presents internationally on topics related to forensic nursing, including her research interests of strangulation, sexual violence, and forensic nursing education.

Margaret Kennedy, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, aka “Peg”, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a strong background in child and adolescent health and trauma-informed approaches to practice and education. Kennedy has experience as a registered nurse in general and intensive care pediatric settings and as a nurse practitioner in a busy family practice setting. She is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Oakland University, where she also serves as the Student Retention and Success Coach. Kennedy earned her PhD in Nursing from Oakland University in 2025, and her dissertation research focused on resilience in trauma-exposed youth through qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with internationally known, multidisciplinary childhood trauma experts. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Michigan State University, and both a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Nursing from Oakland University.

Enduring Modules - This module originated on 10/8/2025 and will remain available for CE credit through 12/31/2027

Criteria for Successful Completion:

Live attendees must join the zoom link via the LMS site, be logged in for a minimum of 90% of the session, and successfully complete the attestation and evaluation. Upon completion, a CE certificate for 1.25 contact hours will be awarded. 

Recordings of the live session will be made available within one week of the live date. 

Asynchronous attendees must utilize the LMS to obtain resource information (if available), view 100% of recording(s), complete all modules, and successfully complete the attestation and evaluation. Upon completion, a CE certificate for 1.25 contact hours will be awarded.

No relevant financial relationships exist for any individuals in a position to control content of this educational activity.

NOTE:

The Academy of Forensic Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.