Standards of Practice for Forensic Mental Health Nurses—Identifying Contemporary Practice

Abstract

Forensic mental health nursing is a recognized field of nursing in most countries. Despite a growing body of literature describing aspects of practice, no publication has been found that captures the core knowledge, skills, and attitudes of forensic mental health nurses. One group of nurses in Australia have pooled their knowledge of relevant literature and their own clinical experience and have written standards of practice for forensic mental health nursing. This paper identifies the need for standards, provides a summary of the standards of practice for forensic mental health nurses, and concludes with how these standards can be used and can articulate to others the desired and achievable level of performance in the specialty area.

Defining the role of a forensic hospital registered nurse using the Delphi method

“…When the Forensic Hospital RN role description was initially developed, eight of the 16 standards of practice for forensic mental health nurses (Martin et al . ) were included. These standards related to security, legal framework, interdisciplinary teamwork, risk, physical health, substance use, families/carers and challenging behaviours.…”

“…, Doyle , Martin et al . ). In the USA, the term ‘forensic nurse’ is generally used to refer to nurses who provide assessment and treatment of victims of crime.…”

“…Settings where nursing care is delivered to forensic patients include secure units or hospitals, prisons, courts, police centres and the community (Bowring‐Lossock , Lyons , Martin et al . ). Forensic patients are known to be a patient group who have multifaceted and complex needs (Bowring‐Lossock , Lyons ).…”

“…This will promote professional accountability for nurses to provide quality care that is competent, safe and ethical (Paternelj‐Taylor & Bode , Martin et al . ).…”

Forensic Psychiatric Patients' Narratives of Their Offense

“…Canter and Youngs (2012) argue that offense narratives encapsulate many psychological processes, including thinking styles, self-concepts, and affective components. As Martin et al (2013) note, knowledge of the criminogenic needs of forensic service patients and the circumstances, nature, and consequences of the patient's offending, should be integrated into the holistic nursing process, promoting personal recovery and reducing recidivism. Narratives increase self-awareness by enabling reflection and formulation of experience (Sakalys, 2003) and also shape people's lives (Lewis, 2011).…”