ATI LPN
Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition
Chapter 42 : Caring for Persons With Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior Questions
Question 1 of 5
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?
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.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is reviewing the medical record of a forensic client who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. The nurse interprets this to mean which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) means the client was unable to control actions at the time of the crime (
B) due to mental illness, as per legal standards. Knowing the act was wrong (
A) contradicts NGRI, inability to assist in defense (
C) relates to competency to stand trial, and mental illness as a factor (
D) is too vague.
Question 3 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 4 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 5 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.