C HAPTER 33: F ORENSIC N URSING
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In which circumstance would a psychiatric forensic nurse examiner
determine it appropriate for a defendant and attorney to consider the
insanit y defense?
a. The defendant shot a drug dealer who tried to overcharge for
cocaine.
b. The defendant acted on auditory halluci nations of the voice of God
commanding,
c. “Kill the children.”
d. The defendant tampered with the brakes on his wife’s car after
discovering she had an extramarital affair.
The defendant was frightened because of a home robbery the preceding
night, assumed a fa mil y member was another burglar, and shot him.
ANS: B
The defendant, demonstrating symptoms of psychosis and acting on the
direction of command hallucinations, could use the defense of legal
insanit y because he was unable to recognize his action as wrong d ue to
a psychiatric illness. The other options suggest the defendant knew
right from wrong, had the capacit y to know the nature and qualit y of
the act, and had the capacit y to form intent to commit the crime.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Applica tion)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs:
Psychosocial Integrity
2. A nurse testifies about care provided to a client in the 8 hours before a
successful suicide. The nurse responds to questions about observations
regarding the client’s behav ior as well as interventions performed and
documented during the shift. In what capacit y was this nurse testifying?
a. Forensic nurse examiner
b. Expert witness
c. Fact witness
d. Consultant
ANS: C
A fact witness testifies regarding first -hand experience onl y; that is ,
the facts the witness possesses because of personal experience with the
situation under review. Forensic nurse examiners conduct court -ordered
examinations and provide written reports and court testimony regarding
the findings of the examinations, but th ey do not give direct client
care. Consultants are neutral experts who educate or advise the Court
or its officers on technical matters such as standards of nursing care.
An expert witness shares professional expertise about the defendant or
elements of th e crime and testifies on behalf of the prosecution or
defendant.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
, 3. The highest degree of credibilit y is required by a nurse who provides
testimony before the Court as what level of care provider?
a. fact witness.
b. expert witness.
c. correctional nurse.
d. critical care nurse.
ANS: B
An expert witness is recognized by the Court as having a higher level
of skill or expertise in a sp ecific area. In addition to testifying about
involvement with the individual and documentation of the interactions,
an expert witness is permitted by the Court to give a professional
opinion. A fact witness may testify onl y regarding what was seen,
heard, performed, or documented regarding first -hand nursing care.
Correctional and critical care nurses may testify as fact witnesses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Safe, Effe ctive Care Environment
4. The psychiatric forensic nurse provides this description of work
responsibilities: “I use knowledge of psychopathology as I investigate and
reconstruct crimes and then try to understand a criminal’s reasoning
process. This allows me to compile information on what t ype of individual
would have most likel y committed the crime.” The work the nurse
describes is identified by what title?
a. competency therapist.
b. hostage negotiator.
c. forensic examiner.
d. criminal profiler.
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In which circumstance would a psychiatric forensic nurse examiner
determine it appropriate for a defendant and attorney to consider the
insanit y defense?
a. The defendant shot a drug dealer who tried to overcharge for
cocaine.
b. The defendant acted on auditory halluci nations of the voice of God
commanding,
c. “Kill the children.”
d. The defendant tampered with the brakes on his wife’s car after
discovering she had an extramarital affair.
The defendant was frightened because of a home robbery the preceding
night, assumed a fa mil y member was another burglar, and shot him.
ANS: B
The defendant, demonstrating symptoms of psychosis and acting on the
direction of command hallucinations, could use the defense of legal
insanit y because he was unable to recognize his action as wrong d ue to
a psychiatric illness. The other options suggest the defendant knew
right from wrong, had the capacit y to know the nature and qualit y of
the act, and had the capacit y to form intent to commit the crime.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Applica tion)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs:
Psychosocial Integrity
2. A nurse testifies about care provided to a client in the 8 hours before a
successful suicide. The nurse responds to questions about observations
regarding the client’s behav ior as well as interventions performed and
documented during the shift. In what capacit y was this nurse testifying?
a. Forensic nurse examiner
b. Expert witness
c. Fact witness
d. Consultant
ANS: C
A fact witness testifies regarding first -hand experience onl y; that is ,
the facts the witness possesses because of personal experience with the
situation under review. Forensic nurse examiners conduct court -ordered
examinations and provide written reports and court testimony regarding
the findings of the examinations, but th ey do not give direct client
care. Consultants are neutral experts who educate or advise the Court
or its officers on technical matters such as standards of nursing care.
An expert witness shares professional expertise about the defendant or
elements of th e crime and testifies on behalf of the prosecution or
defendant.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
, 3. The highest degree of credibilit y is required by a nurse who provides
testimony before the Court as what level of care provider?
a. fact witness.
b. expert witness.
c. correctional nurse.
d. critical care nurse.
ANS: B
An expert witness is recognized by the Court as having a higher level
of skill or expertise in a sp ecific area. In addition to testifying about
involvement with the individual and documentation of the interactions,
an expert witness is permitted by the Court to give a professional
opinion. A fact witness may testify onl y regarding what was seen,
heard, performed, or documented regarding first -hand nursing care.
Correctional and critical care nurses may testify as fact witnesses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Safe, Effe ctive Care Environment
4. The psychiatric forensic nurse provides this description of work
responsibilities: “I use knowledge of psychopathology as I investigate and
reconstruct crimes and then try to understand a criminal’s reasoning
process. This allows me to compile information on what t ype of individual
would have most likel y committed the crime.” The work the nurse
describes is identified by what title?
a. competency therapist.
b. hostage negotiator.
c. forensic examiner.
d. criminal profiler.
