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ForwardCON: 2025 Courtroom Simulation
This intensive 2-day training is designed to prepare new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) to provide confident, ethical, and effective testimony in legal proceedings related to adolescent and adult sexual assault cases. Developed in alignment with the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) standards, Texas legal frameworks, and trauma-informed best practices, this course combines foundational legal knowledge with immersive simulation-based learning. Participants will engage in a series of structured lectures, interactive discussions, and realistic courtroom testimony simulations. Ten of the sixteen hours are devoted to live mock testimony, in which participants respond to direct examination by a District Attorney and undergo rigorous cross-examination by a simulated defense attorney. Constructive feedback and peer review will guide participants in refining their communication, professionalism, and presentation of clinical findings. Participants will recall legal processes, interpret rules of evidence, demonstrate effective testimony strategies, and develop testimony narratives grounded in clinical documentation and ethical practice.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for nurses.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity leaners should be able to:
- List the key steps in the Texas criminal legal process relevant to sexual assault cases.
- Describe how trauma may influence a sexual assault patient’s testimony and behavior in court.
- Explain the meaning of legal concepts such as hearsay, chain of custody, and the Daubert standard.
- Demonstrate appropriate courtroom demeanor during direct and cross-examination.
- Differentiate between fact witness and expert witness testimony roles.
- Critique one’s own courtroom performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Assess testimony examples for clarity, objectivity, and professionalism.
- Formulate strategies for responding to challenging cross-examination questions.
No disclosures were made by the planning team or the faculty.
Jenny Black, RN, BSN, SANE-A
Darren De La Cruz, Assistant District Attorney
Nancy Downing, PhD, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P
In support of improving patient care, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing Education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria.
Designation Statements
Nurses
This activity provides up to 18.0 contact hours.
Certificate of Attendance
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth certifies this activity for 18.0 hours of participation.
Available Credit
- 18.00 ANCC
- 18.00 HSC Participation