ATI LPN
Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice
Chapter 42 : Caring for Persons With Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior Questions
Question 1 of 5
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?
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.
Question 2 of 5
A nursing instructor is explaining to a group of nursing students that in addition to facing the stigma associated with being mentally ill, forensic clients who are mentally ill also experience the stigma associated with being a criminal. One of the students asks the instructor how the stigma associated with criminality might influence nursing care. Which response by the instructor would be most appropriate?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stigma associated with criminality can lead nurses to be reluctant to care for forensic clients due to unrealistic safety fears (
A). Option B is incorrect, as nurses do not typically deny mental illness in criminals. Option C misrepresents nurses? motivations, and option D focuses on post-discharge fears, which is less relevant to direct care.
Question 3 of 5
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?
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.
Question 4 of 5
A psychiatric nursing instructor is trying to explain to a group of students how clients identified as guilty but mentally ill (GBMI) and not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) differ. Which of the following would be most appropriate for the instructor to include in the discussion?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: NGRI clients are treated in a hospital setting with discharge determined by courts (
D), as their mental illness prevented criminal responsibility. GBMI clients (A,
C) are typically managed in correctional settings with parole oversight, not hospital discharge. NGRI clients are not discharged sooner (
B).
Question 5 of 5
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?
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.