Nokea
A nurse is giving a public presentation on the topic of forensic psychiatric care at a community center in a community that is considering building a forensic facility. The nurse is explaining about how someone who is found to be unfit to stand trial is subsequently hospitalized in a forensic mental health facility. A member of the audience asks, 'What is the purpose of the hospitalization?' Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
- A. Basically, they are kept under protective custody as long as necessary.
- B. Efforts are focused on helping the client become ?fit? to stand trial.
- C. Treatment is focused on determining the correct diagnosis.
- D. The main purpose is holding the client until a new trial date can be set.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hospitalization for those unfit to stand trial aims to restore competency (B) through treatment, enabling them to participate in their legal defense. Protective custody (A) is not the primary goal, diagnosis (C) is secondary, and holding for a trial date (D) oversimplifies the purpose.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
When preparing the plan of care for a forensic client, a nurse determines not to investigate the details of the crime. Which of the following best supports the rationale for the nurse?s decision?
- A. Knowing the crime details would be extremely frightening for the nurse.
- B. Denying the crime details will help to protect the nurse from undue anxiety.
- C. It will keep the nurse?s attitudes about the crime from influencing care.
- D. It will help maintain proper professional boundaries between the nurse and the client.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Avoiding crime details prevents the nurse?s attitudes about the crime from influencing care (C), ensuring unbiased, therapeutic treatment. Fear (A) and anxiety (B) are less relevant, and boundaries (D) are maintained through other professional practices, not just avoiding crime details.