Forensic Nurse Role

Prisons, penitentiaries, correctional facilities and psychiatric forensic hospitals are in place to provide rehabilitation and treatment to offenders who have mental illnesses. Correctional facilities are high stress areas where many offenders may have conditions consequent on trauma and they could have labile emotions that may predispose to violence against other individuals and caregivers. Within the field of forensic nursing there is considerable debate about the significant aspects of the forensic nurse’s role. An imperative task for the forensic nurse is to complete an assessment of the offenders’ violence risk. The purpose of this paper is to critically review a journal article titled ‘Risk Assessment of Forensic Patients Nurses’ Role’

An accurate risk assessment may also help identify patient’s problematic thinking behaviours (Encinares et al., 2005). The first limitation noted in this article is the lack of up to date studies to support that nurses must conduct risk assessments and that these risk assessments will identify the patients risk level and help create an effective risk management plan. Encinares, McMaster, and McNamee (2005) provide a clinical vignette that they believe demonstrates and justifies the role of the forensic nurse in conducting a forensic risk assessment and management plan. However, they do not provide their own research study. A second limitation is that the author’s express forensic psychiatric nursing as a new field and that longitudinal data have not been regularly published (Encinares et al., 2005). This statement theoretically supports that there may be a lack of knowledge within the field. Presenting that forensic nursing requires more research and evidence based

Encinares, McMaster, and McNamee (2005) state forensic nursing is a new and evolving field of nursing and forensic nurses are now being trained to use actuarial and structural clinical risk assessment strategies to identify violent behaviour. Further research must be implemented to ensure these risk assessments are effective tools when conducted by nurses. With further research there would be more evidence revealed proving these risk assessments should be utilized on forensic patients during incarceration. Further research is also needed to identify if different risk assessments are needed for adolescent patients versus adult patients as well as female versus male. There needs to be additional studies to determine if conducting risk assessments does truly help formulate a management plan and determine if those management plans truly prevent reoffending and help patients integrate back into the community