NCJ Number
197510
Editor(s)
Norman McClelland,
Martin Humphreys,
Lorraine Conlon,
Tony Hillis
Date Published
2001
Length
157 pages
Annotation
This book discusses the best practices in forensic nursing.
Abstract
Nurses working within secure psychiatric services spend a lot of time with mentally disordered in-patients. As a result, they need to acquire diverse skills to enable them to provide effective care for some of the most difficult patients. Their relationship with the individual, their observations, and ongoing assessments, are important to patient management and treatment. There is a need to achieve a balance between therapeutic intervention and security within secure psychiatric settings. The attitude of nursing staff towards their patients is of crucial importance in achieving a safe, therapeutic environment. Respect, tolerance, and non-judgmental attitudes are needed. A continuum of care is described, from initial assessment to aftercare in the community. The role of forensic nursing has evolved over the past decade. Training, education, and research by forensic nursing practitioners are vital. Chapter 1 describes the referral process and the admission unit. Chapter 2 describes assessment and clinical risk. Chapter 3 details treatment approaches in regard to relatives and caregivers, inter-professional working, vocational rehabilitation, a model for schizophrenia, and therapeutic dilemmas in forensic practice. Chapter 4 discusses strategies for dealing with hostility from patients. Chapter 5 discusses suicide and self-harm issues. Chapter 6 deals with the legal aspects of forensic nursing. Chapter 7 discusses education and training opportunities. Chapter 8 describes diversion of mentally disordered offenders from the criminal justice system. Chapter 9 reflects on aftercare, moving the patient on to the community, and chapter 10 describes future challenges in the forensic mental health care field. Index