Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Caring for Persons With Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior Related

Review Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Caring for Persons With Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior related questions and content

A group of nurses who have recently been hired to work in the mental health division of a large federal prison system are undergoing orientation. A nurse is discussing medication administration for the clients. Which statement would the nurse most likely include in this presentation?

  • A. Our inmates have to take their medication; to facilitate this, most of our oral medications are dissolved in water before we hand them to a prisoner.
  • B. Our inmates have the same rights as any clients do. If they refuse medications and become a danger to themselves, we still cannot give any medications.
  • C. Our inmates have to take their medications; we routinely give them injections so they can?t cheek their medications.
  • D. If our inmates refuse to take their medications, we have to get a court order that mandates compliance with prescribed medications.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In a prison setting, if inmates refuse medications, a court order may be required to mandate compliance (D), especially for mental health treatment in forensic clients. Dissolving medications (A) or using injections (C) to prevent cheeking is not standard practice, and inmates retain some rights to refuse (B) unless a court order is obtained.