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 student nurse has been asked by the mental health nursing instructor to plan educational interventions for a forensic client with whom the student has been working. Which of the following would be most important for the student nurse to include in the plan?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Educating the client on how nutrition and exercise promote physical and mental well-being (
C) is most relevant, as it empowers the client to manage health post-discharge. Genetic factors (
A) are not directly actionable, legal proceedings (
B) are outside nursing scope, and provider lists for family (
D) are less client-focused.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is working with a forensic client on de-escalation techniques. Which activity would be most appropriate as a grounding physical activity?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rocking in a rocking chair (
B) is a calming, grounding activity that helps reduce agitation in forensic clients. Drumming (
A) and aerobic exercise (
C) may be stimulating, and yoga (
D) requires more focus, making them less effective for immediate de-escalation.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is working with a forensic client on early recognition. On which area would the nurse and client focus?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Early recognition focuses on identifying aggressive behavior signals (
B) to prevent escalation in forensic clients. Medication side effects (
A), informed consent (
C), and discharge needs (
D) are important but not the primary focus of early recognition training.
Question 4 of 5
A psychiatric nurse who works with forensic clients is describing the roles and responsibilities to a group of nursing students. Which of the following would the nurse emphasize as critical before initiating medication therapy for a forensic client?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Informed consent (
C) is critical before initiating medication therapy, even in forensic settings, to respect client autonomy unless overridden by a court order. A court order (
A) is only needed if consent is refused, NGRI status (
B) is unrelated, and aggression history (
D) informs but does not precede consent.
Question 5 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.