In between caregiving and guarding: conflicting roles of nurses in forensic mental health
Working in forensic mental health is challenging. The traditional role of nurses as caregiver conflicts with that of a custodian. A legitimate question is whether forensic mental health should be considered as a specialty service in nursing. And, if this is indeed the case, which skills, knowledge and attitudes should nurses possess to work effectively with this client population? The assignment’s task is to consider the role of the forensic mental health nurse in the protection of the public. Also the impact of the role of the custodian on the therapeutic relationship should be explored. You need to address the following points:
Describe the role of nurses in forensic mental health in relation to protecting the public.
Identify underlying reasons for resistance amongst mental health professionals working with forensic mental health clients.
Reflect on the impact of the role of ‘custodian’ on the therapeutic relationship.
Describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes that the forensic mental health nurse should possess to function adequately.
Identify strategies to overcome mistrust that forensic mental health clients may have in therapeutic practices.
Word Count: 2500 (excluding end text references).
Your assignment should include a title page, contents page, introduction, conclusion and a reference list of relevant journal articles that you have cited in your text No older the 7 years following APA 7th ed. Sub-titles can be used in the main body of the paper to give an orderly presentation of your paper.
Your conclusion should be a summary of your findings – not a repetition of your introduction. Suggest areas for further research.
Please use the assignment template and follow the rubric marking key.
Please Use this book as a major reference: Gunn, K. & Taylor, P. J. (2014). Forensic Psychiatry: Clinical, Legal and Ethical Issues [2nd edition]. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group