Forensic Mental Health Nursing

Book excerpt: Forensic Mental Health Nursing illustrates contemporary forensic mental health nursing practice within and beyond secure clinical environments. This multi-authored book demonstrates the evolution of the nurse's role from its in-patient, secure-services origins to the diverse sub-specialism of mental health nursing that exists today. Specific practice-based issues, such as the care and management of sex offenders and personality disordered individuals, are addressed, together with an exploration of topics including the skills and knowledge base of forensic mental health nursing, the development of the forensic nurse's role and the challenges of community services provision. Individual chapters are devoted to issues such as psychosocial interventions, the assessment and management of risk, diversion from the Criminal Justice System, ethnicity and the ethical aspects of practice. This book will be of interest to forensic mental health nurses, those who may be contemplating a career in this area, and to members of the other professional groups involved in the management and provision of care and treatment within forensic mental health settings. It will provide a primary resource text for students studying in this area.