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A client with mental illness and arrested has been found to be unfit to stand trial, and the client is admitted to a forensic mental health facility. The nurse understands that the client can be hospitalized for up to which duration to become fit?
- A. 3 months
- B. 6 months
- C. 1 year
- D. 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clients found unfit to stand trial may be hospitalized for up to 1 year (C) to restore competency, as per typical U.S. legal standards, with extensions possible if needed. Shorter durations (A, B) are insufficient, and 5 years (D) is excessive unless specified by the court.
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A nurse?s friend is considering going into forensic nursing and asks the nurse to explain the connection between mental illness and being convicted of a crime. Which response by the nurse would be most accurate?
- A. Mentally ill men are less likely than nonmentally ill men to be convicted of a crime.
- B. Mentally ill women are less likely than nonmentally ill women to be convicted of a crime.
- C. Women who are incarcerated are more likely to receive mental health services than men.
- D. African American offenders often receive more mental health treatment than other offenders.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Women who are incarcerated are more likely to receive mental health services than men (C), as studies show higher rates of mental health intervention for female inmates due to greater recognition of their needs. Mentally ill individuals (A, B) are not less likely to be convicted; mental illness often increases legal involvement. African American offenders (D) typically face disparities in access, not more treatment.
A psychiatric nurse who works with forensic clients is describing the roles and responsibilities to a group of nursing students. Which of the following would the nurse emphasize as critical before initiating medication therapy for a forensic client?
- A. Court order for medication
- B. Determination of not guilty by reason of insanity
- C. Informed consent
- D. Identification of history for aggression
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Informed consent (C) is critical before initiating medication therapy, even in forensic settings, to respect client autonomy unless overridden by a court order. A court order (A) is only needed if consent is refused, NGRI status (B) is unrelated, and aggression history (D) informs but does not precede consent.
The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a forensic client. Which of the following would be most important for the nurse to include when explaining the purpose of the assessment to the client?
- A. This is just a routine assessment, and we will be discussing specific events that have led to you being admitted to this unit.
- B. I will be asking you questions so we can determine how to best meet your needs.
- C. It is important during this initial assessment that you relate the specific details of the crimes of your case so we can effectively treat you.
- D. I will be asking you questions that will focus on mental health and behavioral issues rather than on the specific details of any crimes associated with your case.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Explaining that the assessment focuses on mental health and behavioral issues (D) is most appropriate, as it clarifies the therapeutic purpose and avoids delving into crime details, which could bias care. Routine assessment (A) is vague, discussing crime events (C) is inappropriate, and option B is less specific.
A nurse is working with a forensic client on early recognition. On which area would the nurse and client focus?
- A. Medication side effects
- B. Aggressive behavior signals
- C. Violations of informed consent
- D. Discharge needs
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Early recognition focuses on identifying aggressive behavior signals (B) to prevent escalation in forensic clients. Medication side effects (A), informed consent (C), and discharge needs (D) are important but not the primary focus of early recognition training.
A nurse is working with a forensic client on de-escalation techniques. Which activity would be most appropriate as a grounding physical activity?
- A. Drumming
- B. Rocking in a rocking chair
- C. Aerobic exercise
- D. Yoga
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rocking in a rocking chair (B) is a calming, grounding activity that helps reduce agitation in forensic clients. Drumming (A) and aerobic exercise (C) may be stimulating, and yoga (D) requires more focus, making them less effective for immediate de-escalation.