Violence Risk Assessment in Forensic Nurses’ Clinical Practice: A Qualitative Interview Study

Abstract

Background: The legislation of Swedish forensic psychiatric care states that the risk of further violence must be assessed before a patient is granted release from a forensic psychiatric hospital. The aim of the study was to describe the experiences of forensic nurses with in-patient risk assessment processes, and their implication for daily clinical forensic praxis.Method: Semi-structured interviews with staff who were involved in the patients risk assessment process. The interview texts were analyzed using qualitative latent content analysis. Discussion:The forensic nursing staff has to deal with many contradictory realities. The description was about being able to balance between supporting their work with an EBP approach of risk assessment while trying to establish interpersonal relationships and to allow for positive meetings with the patient. The study indicated that staff used a multiple sources of knowledge in order to make credible and accurate risk assessments. Conclusions:If the risk assessment process are to be used in a legally secure manner, the staff must receive regular support from team leadership that can provide both guidance and training. Based on a holistic approach, the link between the instinct of staff and their work with structured risk assessment must be founded on routines and solid platforms.

The care for the persistent family aggressor in the perception of nursing students

“…The multidisciplinary action allows for different conceptual perceptions of the facts, which allows for enriching discussions and collectively planning interventions. The multiple training courses in joint action collaborate to find risks, limits, potentialities and possible paths to follow (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) , as evidenced by the participants of this study. Actions to prevent violence and promote a Culture of Peace, such as conflict mediation, restorative practices and the use of nonviolent communication are also measures to be taken by the multidisciplinary health team.…”

“…Therefore, the search for knowledge is a necessary practice for everyone who, directly or indirectly, is involved with the topic. assistance provided to the aggressor, in the most varied places and situations, from those of deprivation of liberty to within the home (28)(29) .…”