The Roles of Forensic Nursing in Caring for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

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This document provides information on the roles of forensic nursing in caring for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). It is part of the Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness (CSS-SMI) initiative, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and implemented by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).<br /><br />The document highlights the prevalence of individuals with SMI in criminal settings and discusses the various roles of nursing in the treatment of individuals who are SMI and involved in criminal-legal processes or may be victims of crime. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the statistics on mental illness and justice system involvement to provide appropriate care.<br /><br />The roles of forensic nursing are described in different settings, including jails, prisons, state hospitals, community mental health, emergency rooms, and crisis stabilization units. The document explains that mental health services vary across these settings, and care should be commensurate with community standards. It also addresses the provision of psychotropic medications, court involvement of clinicians, and the concept of Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT), which focuses on preventing incarceration and providing long-term support.<br /><br />The document emphasizes the impact of trauma, co-occurring disorders, and social determinants on individuals with SMI in the justice system. It discusses the relationship between mental illness and crime, highlighting that mental illness alone has a modest effect on criminal behavior. It also explores the intersectionality of mental illness, interpersonal violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.<br /><br />The roles of forensic nurses in interdisciplinary teams are highlighted, along with their involvement in trauma-informed care, medication management, establishing therapeutic relationships, and engagement in treatment and recovery. The document acknowledges the challenges and resource scarcity in forensic nursing, but also provides strategies for positive healthcare delivery in settings lacking resources.<br /><br />Overall, the document provides valuable information on the roles of forensic nursing in caring for individuals with SMI in various settings, as well as addressing the challenges and importance of trauma-informed care in this population.

Keywords

forensic nursing

serious mental illness

clinical support system

criminal settings

nursing roles

mental illness statistics

justice system involvement

psychotropic medications

forensic assertive community treatment

trauma and mental illness