Original Article

Standards of Practice for Forensic Mental

Health NursesVIdentifying
Contemporary Practice
Trish Martin, RN, DN1,2, Tessa Maguire, RN, Grad Dip FBS1,2, Chris Quinn, RN, Grad Dip (MHN)1,3,
Jo Ryan, RN, BEd1, Louise Bawden, RN, BAppSci 1, and Monica Summers, RN, Grad Dip (AdvClinNsing)1

ABSTRACT
Forensic mental health nursing is a recognized field of nursing in most countries. Despite a growing body of
literature describing aspects of practice, no publication has been found that captures the core knowledge, skills,
and attitudes of forensic mental health nurses. One group of nurses in Australia have pooled their knowledge of
relevant literature and their own clinical experience and have written standards of practice for forensic mental
health nursing. This paper identifies the need for standards, provides a summary of the standards of practice for
forensic mental health nurses, and concludes with how these standards can be used and can articulate to others
the desired and achievable level of performance in the specialty area.
KEY WORDS:
Forensic mental health nursing; forensic psychiatric nursing; knowledge; role; skills; standards

orensic mental health nursing practice can be defined

F
as undertaking an assessment, developing a formula-
tion, planning, implementing, and evaluating nurs-
ing care and treatment, within a therapeutic alliance, with
people experiencing mental illness and who have a history
of criminal offending or who present a serious risk of such
behavior. Across many international jurisdictions, this def-
inition will broadly capture what it is that forensic mental
health nurses (FMHNs) do and who their patients are.
Common sites where these nurses practice are law courts,
police custody centers, prisons, secure hospitals, and com-
munity services.
However, not all FMHNs work with criminal offend-
ers and could, for example, be undertaking a mental
Author Affiliations: 1Forensicare, Victoria, Australia, 2Monash
University, and 3Central Queensland University.
The authors have disclosed no conflict of interest.
Correspondence: Jo Ryan, RN, BEd, Locked Bag 10, Fairfield,
Victoria 3078, Australia.
E-mail: jo.ryan@forensicare.vic.gov.au.
Received June 28, 2012; accepted for publication October 1, 2012.
Copyright * 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses
DOI: 10.1097/JFN.0b013e31827a593a
health assessment and providing nursing treatment and
care to victims of trauma or providing mental health as-
sessment and advice (American Nurses Association & In-
ternational Association of Forensic Nurses [IAFN], 2009).
Lyons (2009) made a distinction between the roles of fo-
rensic psychiatric nurses and correctional psychiatric nurses
in the United States. Forensic psychiatric nurses assess vic-
tims and perpetrators and provide expert evidence and
make recommendations for treatment. Correctional psy-
chiatric nursing appears to be concerned with providing
that treatment. The role of FMHNs may be more aligned
to that of correctional nurses, although it should be noted
that Kent-Wilkinson (2011) does not make this distinc-
tion and merges the roles.
Despite attempts in the literature to describe this emerg-
ing area of nursing, no recent publication has captured the
potential scope of practice of FMHNs. Charged with the
responsibility for the scope of practice and professional
development of nurses at one Australian forensic mental
health service, a group of senior nurses decided to develop
standards that would describe and guide the practice of
FMHNs with adult forensic service patients (FSPs). These
standards are grounded in the experience of these senior
nurses and the relevant literature.

Journal of Forensic Nursing www.journalforensicnursing.com 171

Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
 Original Article
Mental health nursing is a specialty of nursing, and the
authors of the standards subscribe to recognized accep-
tance of FMHN as a subspecialty of mental health nursing.
Therefore, these FMHN standards must be considered
as building on nursing standards that are common to all
nurses (e.g., the National Competency Standards for the
Registered Nurse authored by the Australian Nursing and
Midwifery Council, 2005) and further as building on men-
tal health nursing standards (in Australia, e.g., the Stan-
dards of Practice for Australian Mental Health Nurses
authored by the Australian College of Mental Health
Nurses, 2011). Replication of standards was inevitable
as nurses in forensic settings are delivering core mental
health nursing care, albeit in a modified, extended, or
adapted manner, to meet the needs of the patients and
the context. Meeting the standards of nursing and mental
health nursing is therefore a necessary requirement before
meeting these FMHN standards. In addition to being a
subspecialty of mental health nursing, FMHN is also a
subspecialty of forensic nursing (Kent-Wilkinson, 2011),
and the Forensic Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice
(American Nurses Association & IAFN, 2009) provide
another set of practice standards for FMHNs to consider.
The development, use, and monitoring of professional
standards assist services toward the assurance of quality
care (Neville, Hangan, Eley, Quinn, & Weir, 2008; O’Brien,
Bobby, Hardy, & O’Brien, 2004) by ensuring that health
professionals are accountable for the provision of safe, com-
petent, and ethical care (Peternelj-Taylor & Bode, 2010).
This paper describes the rationale and the process of devel-
oping standards for FMHNs. The individual standards will
be identified and explained, and lastly, the implications for
FMHN practice will be given.
h The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes
of FMHNs
The FMHN practices at the interface of justice and mental
health where the patient population does not fit neatly in
either department. It is a complex field for nurses whose un-
dergraduate training does not address offending issues or
prepare them to care for patients who can ‘‘evoke feelings
of disgust, repulsion and fear’’ (Jacob, Gagnon, & Holmes,
2009, p. 153).
The competencies of FMHNs were first reported by
Niskala (1986) in Canada. Of the 13 general areas of com-
petency, the two that appeared to be directly specific to
FMHN were maintaining security and instructing offend-
ers. In England, Benson (1992) surveyed clinical nurse spe-
cialists in forensic mental health to identify the elements
of skill and knowledge most relevant to their practice. As-
sessment and management of dangerous behaviors, crim-
172 www.journalforensicnursing.com
Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
inology, law and professional accountability, therapeutic
use of security, social policy, and ethics were identified,
but the nurses had received little appropriate education
and did not believe themselves to be competent in all areas.
Dhondea (1995) in Australia also attempted to make
sense of what nurses do in a forensic mental health setting,
and like Niskala (1986), the findings were limited to only
two of the six recommendations being directly relevant to
forensic mental health: maintaining security and under-
standing legal processes affecting patients. Burnard and
Morrison (1995) found that nurses in forensic contexts
had difficulty in articulating exactly what it is that they
did that might be therapeutic. This resulted in Peternelj-
Taylor (2008) still asking ‘‘What knowledge and skills
are required to provide competent and ethical nursing care
in restrictive correctional environments?’’(p. 186). The ques-
tion can be broadened to include all forensic contexts.
Exploration of the role of the FMHN has continued
with some attempts to identify the required knowledge
and skills. Bowring-Lossock (2006) claimed that there
were benefits to clarifying the role of FMHNs and through
a literature review identified task-orientated competence
and desirable personal qualities. These included safety
and security, risk assessment and management, manage-
ment of violence, providing therapy, knowledge of offend-
ing and legislation and ethics, report writing, understanding
the criminal justice system and ‘‘jail craft,’’ understanding
public attitudes, having an appreciation of control and the
secure environment, and the nurseYpatient relationship.
One research project (Mason, Coyle, & Lovell, 2008;
Mason, Lovell, & Coyle, 2008) investigated the skills of
FMHNs. The top 10 special nursing skills were identified
by surveyed FMHNs as skills for nursing personality dis-
orders, listening skills, confidence, clinical knowledge,
communication skills, nonjudgmental attitude, empathy,
patience, knowledge of offending behavior, and multidisci-
plinary working (Mason, Lovell, et al., 2008). Personal
qualities were reported more often than nursing skills.
The FMHNs then identified the top 10 aspects of nursing
care to be developed as personality disorders/psychopathic
disorders, nursing team working, offense-related work, re-
search skills, multidisciplinary team working, communica-
tion skills, psychosocial interventions, nursing diagnoses,
addictions, and consistency among staff (Mason, Coyle,
et al., 2008). Mason, Coyle, et al. described this list as a
‘‘disparate farrago of areas and interventions’’ (p. 137) and
concluded that there is still some distance to go before the
skills and competencies of FMHN are clearly delineated.
Timmons (2010) drew on the framework of an earlier
study (United Kingdom Central Council, 1999) to survey
mental health nurses in a high security setting in Ireland.
Some highlighted findings include the therapeutic alliance
Volume 9 & Number 3 & JulyYSeptember 2013

being a vehicle to keep patients safe and manage their
needs and risks, and a reduced confidence to undertake
specialist assessments and address offending behavior.
Twenty per cent of survey respondents did not consider
risk assessment to be very important, and very few nurses
worked directly with families. Finally, supporting recovery
and human rights although important was challenged by
the need for security and risk management. Much of the
role was focused on mainstream mental health nursing
practice, and the specialist forensic practice was reported
as being deficient. These findings support those of Martin
and Street (2003) where examination of nursing case file
entries in a forensic unit failed to confirm the nurses’ con-
tention that their practice was comprehensive and thera-
peutic. The patient’s offense and other forensic-related
needs received little mention.
This brief review that sought to identify the knowledge
and skills of FMHNs can conclude that more attention is
required to clearly articulate the specialist role of FMHN.
This paper reports on the work of one group that have
attempted to capture the core knowledge and skills in the
form of standards of practice.
h The Function of Standards
Standards of practice are authoritative statements that
reflect current knowledge and understanding along with
the values and priorities for a profession (Beal et al., 2007;
Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses, 2006;
Peternelj-Taylor & Bode, 2010). Standards provide stated
expectations of accepted performance by ‘‘incorporating
vital information and new trends in the field, and linking
these with expected outcomes’’ (Beal et al., 2007, p. 14).
They also define the scope of practice for individual nurses
(O’Brien et al., 2004), and guide the practice of nurses
across a range of clinical environments and include profes-
sional knowledge, skills, and attitudes (Australian College
of Mental Health Nurses, 2011). Through standards,
nurses articulate to others the scope of practice and are
held accountable for safe, competent, ethical, and legally
defensible nursing care.
h Standards for FMHNs
Standards of practice for FMHN should be linked directly
to professional accountability, be representative of the
specialist nature of this role, and reflect the growing body
of knowledge of FMHN (Peternelj-Taylor & Bode, 2010).
The Forensic Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice
(American Nurses Association & IAFN, 2009) is useful
in providing guidance but is more oriented toward the fo-
Journal of Forensic Nursing
Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Original Article
rensic nurse role where evidence collection and the care of
victims of crime are the focus.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN, 1997) in the
United Kingdom identified the core competencies and ad-
vanced nursing practices for mental health nurses working
with FSPs. The core competencies were generic mental
health nursing competencies; however, the advanced nurs-
ing practices included risk assessment and management,
assessment and management of dangerousness, cognitive
therapies, behavioral therapies, and social skills training
(RCN, 1997). In 2009, the RCN (2009) released a guide
for nurses working in the criminal justice system, and al-
though the guide discusses the health and social needs of
offenders, no guidance is given for FMHNs. Work under-
taken in Scotland to identify core competencies for nurses
in forensic mental health settings (National Board for Nurs-
ing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland, 2000)
identified three competencies: risk assessment; profes-
sional, legal, and ethical aspects of care; and interpersonal.
Although these standards have been useful guides to
practice, they have not provided the specific direction that
is needed to identify the scope of practice and the practice
challenges of FMHN.
h Process of Writing the Forensic Mental Health
Nursing Standards of Practice 2012
In the absence of standards and charged with the responsi-
bility for the management and professional development
of nurses at one Australian forensic mental health service,
a group of senior nurses decided to write standards to guide
mental health nurses in forensic and correctional settings,
or when caring for a patient with a forensic history. A pro-
longed process of reviewing the literature, examining local
practice against ideal practice, discussion, debate, and com-
promise resulted in the current 16 standards. The main areas
of difficulty were deciding what areas of practice justified a
standard and what areas were to be woven through all stan-
dards, and deciding what content was unnecessary because
it was adequately covered in core nursing and mental health
nursing standards. When the standards were considered to
be complete, 36 nurses from across Australia and overseas,
known to the authors through their publications or demon-
strated leadership in FMHN, were invited to comment on
the standards. Twelve nurses, from nine countries (England,
United States, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Wales, Sweden,
Norway, and Australia) generously provided feedback and
recommendations and confirmed that the standards cap-
tured the core FMHN knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The
Consumer Consultant and the Family and Carer Advocate
who worked with the authors provided additional feed-
back that strengthened the standards by adding emphasis
www.journalforensicnursing.com 173
 Original Article
to patient-centered care and family/carer-sensitive prac-
tice. The standards presented in this paper are the result
of this work.
h The Forensic Mental Health Nursing
Standards of Practice
For each of the 16 standards, there is a rationale and de-
scriptive statements that describe the knowledge, skills,
and attitudes that are required to meet the standard. For
the purpose of this paper, we have provided a brief rationale
and references for further reading for each standard. The
insufficiency of contemporary nursing references is an indi-
cation of the early development and evidence base of this
field of nursing (see Table 1).
Standard 1: Security
In secure settings, the FMHN maintains an attitude of vig-
ilance and adheres to the security policies and procedures
that are in place to prevent FSPs escaping from the facility
or absconding from approved leave. Effective rehabilita-
tion requires that FSPs are given opportunities to practice
skills and test their progress in real-life situations consistent
with security requirements. Security procedures can be ex-
ceedingly invasive; however, it is the carrying out of the pro-
cedures that can have the greatest impact on patients and the
ongoing relationship with patients. Insensitivity can poten-
tially damage the results of effective interpersonal work.
Integrating therapeutic goals with security requirements
needs constant appraisal of organizational processes and
nurseYpatient relationships to ensure that opportunities for
therapeutic practice are maximized (Collins, 2000; Collins
& Davies, 2005; Dale & Gardner, 2001; Davison, 2004).
Standard 2: Legal Framework
The FMHN requires knowledge of legislation and the
criminal justice system processes to provide nursing assess-
ment and treatment that is congruent with the FSP’s legal sta-
tus and treatment (Bowring-Lossock, 2006; Humphreys,
Oppong-Gyapong, & Mason, 2001; Kent-Wilkinson,
2009).
Standard 3: Ethical Practice
Practicing in justice settings where the values and policies
potentially conflict with the principles of mental health
nursing practice and caring for FSPs in all settings can
result in FMHNs experiencing ethical dilemmas and prob-
lems. The FMHN must also manage personal moral judg-
ments that conflict with professional nursing obligations
to provide treatment and care to FSPs (Austin, 2001; Fisher,
1995; Kettles, Coffey, & Byrt, 2010).
174 www.journalforensicnursing.com
Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
TABLE 1. Forensic Mental Health Nursing
Standards
The forensic mental health nurse will:
1. Structure the treatment environment to integrate security
with therapeutic goals.
2. Apply knowledge of the legal framework to service delivery
and individual care.
3. Conduct forensic mental health nursing practice ethically.
4. Practice within an interdisciplinary team that may include
criminal justice staff.
5. Establish, maintain, and terminate therapeutic relationships
with forensic service patients using the nursing process.
6. Integrate assessment and management of offense issues
into nursing care processes.
7. Assess for the impact of trauma and engage in strategies
to minimise the effects of trauma.
8. Assess and manage risk potential of forensic service patients.
9. Manage the containment and transition process of forensic
service patients.
10. Promote optimal physical health of forensic service patients.
11. Minimize potential harm from substance use by forensic
service patients.
12. Practice respectfully with families/carers of forensic
service patients.
13. Advocate for the mental health needs of forensic service
patients in a prison or police custodial setting.
14. Support and encourage optimal functioning of forensic
service patients in long-term care.
15. Demonstrate professional integrity in response to
challenging behaviors.
16. Engage in strategies that minimize the experience of
stigma and discrimination for forensic service patients.
Standard 4: Interdisciplinary Teamwork
The FMHN practices as a member of an interdisciplinary
team at the interface of the criminal justice system and
mental health system, and in justice settings, the interdis-
ciplinary team can include custodial officers, community
corrections officers, police officers, security officers, and
court staff. Although an interdisciplinary approach allows
for a broad theoretical base that draws on the knowledge
and skills of each discipline to enhance treatment and care,
the FMHN acknowledges the potential for enculturation
to criminal justice values (Holmes, Perron, & Michaud,
2007; Turnball & Beese, 2000; Weiskopf, 2005).
Standard 5: Therapeutic Relationship
Inherent tensions in the therapeutic relationship with FSPs
prevail, including: the security requirements of custodial
Volume 9 & Number 3 & JulyYSeptember 2013

environments are grounded in distrust rather than
trust; the legal status of FSPs challenges notions of
voluntary treatment; and the experience of FSPs can result
in attitudes of suspicion, hostility, and subversion to treat-
ment goals. The FMHN recognizes these tensions and
makes prudent use of self and interpersonal therapeutic
skills (Encinares, McMaster, & McNamee, 2005; Martin,
2001; Peternelj-Taylor, 1998, 2001; Rask & Aberg, 2002).
Standard 6: Offense Issues
It is the alleged/offending behavior that differentiates the
patients of the FMHN. Knowledge of the criminogenic
needs of the FSP and the circumstances, nature, and conse-
quences of the patient’s offending is integrated within the
comprehensive nursing process, which promotes personal
recovery and reduces recidivism. The FMHN works in part-
nership with FSPs and their families/carers/significant sup-
ports to facilitate an understanding of offending behavior
and mental illness (Burrow, 1993; Martin, 2001, 2010;
Rask & Levander, 2001).
Standard 7: Trauma
Exposure to trauma is a common experience for FSPs and
includes exposure to traumatic experiences (such as being a
victim of or witness to abuse or neglect), trauma related to
committing the index offense, trauma related to detention
(including isolation from supports, community role loss),
trauma related to experiencing coercion in secure settings),
and trauma related to the impact of the secure environment
(such as locked doors and loss of privacy). The FMHN
must assess for the impact of trauma, implement appropri-
ate treatment, and avoid inadvertently retraumatizing FSPs
(Aiyegbusi, 2002; Aiyegbusi & Tuck, 2008).
Standard 8: Risk
The FSP may be at risk to self or others based on a number
of static and dynamic risk and protective factors. The
FMHN engages with mental health and criminal justice
processes to manage risk at individual, interpersonal, orga-
nizational, and community levels (Doyle, 2000; Encinares
et al., 2005; Kettles, 2004; Lyons, 2009).
Standard 9: Transition
Transition between environments such as between higher
and lower security environments or returning to the com-
munity are potentially stressful events for the FSP. This stress
can result in decompensation of mental state, which may
lead to behaviors such as deliberate self-harm, harm to
others, or absconding, which can compromise the transi-
tion. Care and treatment planning for FSPs incorporates
judgment about risks, protective factors, available resources,
Journal of Forensic Nursing
Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Original Article
and therapeutic objectives (Coffey, 2011, 2012; Skelly,
2001).
Standard 10: Physical Health
The lifestyle of many FSPs renders them vulnerable to poor
physical health. Incarceration imposes potential threats
to physical health. These threats include mental state dis-
turbance, substance use, unsafe sexual behavior, victim-
ization, and interpersonal violence. The FMHN must
consider environmental risks and individual needs when
planning any interventions promoting the health of the
FSP (Prebble et al., 2011; Toman, 1999).
Standard 11: Substance Use
There is an association between substance use and offend-
ing behavior, especially violence, for people with mental ill-
ness. The FMHN needs to address substance use by FSPs
to reduce risk to health and minimize reoffending (Dale,
2001; Price & Wibberley, 2012).
Standard 12: Families/Carers
Mental illness and the nature of the offense and its conse-
quences have an impact on family members/carers and
their relationships with the FSP. The FMHN needs to dem-
onstrate skill and sensitivity in working with the family/
carers around these significant issues (Gasson, 2001; James,
Martin, & Vine, 1997; MacInnes, 2000).
Standard 13: Advocacy
Detention can impact on the FSP’s mental health and access
to treatment. Provision of health care is not the primary
focus in a prison or police custodial setting, and FMHNs
are uniquely positioned to advocate for the mental health
needs of FSPs and negotiate for appropriate and timely
healthcare(Doyle, 1999; Kitchiner, 1999; Weiskopf, 2005).
Standard 14: Long-term Care
Legal status and enduring mental illness can result in long-
term care of FSPs in secure settings and the community.
Special needs of FSPs in long-term care arise from a range
of factors including loss of hope and institutionalization.
The FMHN maintains therapeutic optimism and promotes
‘‘a life worth living’’ using an open, flexible, and transpar-
ent approach (Haines, 2000; Kitchiner, 1999).
Standard 15: Challenging Behaviors
The FMHN will encounter adverse incidents, some extreme
in their consequences, including deliberate self-harm, vio-
lence, and other offending behavior. Theoretical under-
standing of causative factors, empathic and flexible limit
setting, consistent care and treatment planning, and mon-
itoring of emotional responses to FSPs with challenging
www.journalforensicnursing.com 175
 Original Article
behaviors are necessary to maintain therapeutic effective-
ness (Chandley, 2002; Mason, 2000; Schafer, 2002).
Standard 16: Stigma and Discrimination
Attitudes toward mental illness and offending behavior are
influenced by misinformation, ignorance, fear, and sensa-
tionalist representation in the media, and FSPs are disad-
vantaged through the negative appraisal by others and
by internalized impacts on identity, self-concept, and per-
sonal recovery related to forensic status and mental illness.
The FMHN is aware and demonstrates that understand-
ing, support, education, and advocacy are necessary to
combat stigma and discrimination (Martin, 2001; Martin
& Ryan, 2011).
h Conclusion and Implications for Forensic
Mental Health Nursing Practice
The standards presented in this paper represent only the
core knowledge, skills, and attitudes of FMHNs, and fur-
ther development of these standards is needed to address
advanced practice. The nursing contribution to the inter-
disciplinary assessment, formulation, treatment, and eval-
uation of care given to FSPs is clearly identified in the
standards. These standards can be used to guide practice,
develop educational programs, and plan research in foren-
sic mental health nursing. The standards have not been
evaluated, and their usefulness to the field will be evident
by their application by individual nurses or services and
through citation (e.g., Nizette, McAllister, & Marks,
2012).
Employers of nurses can refer to the standards to estab-
lish nursing profiles, to develop position descriptions that
articulate expectations of nurses, and to guide performance
appraisals. At the inpatient forensic service where the au-
thors are employed, the standards have been used as a
framework to develop an orientation program for nurses
who are new to forensic mental health. This program was
suggested by the Scottish ‘‘New to Forensic’’ introductory ed-
ucational program (Walker, Langton, & Thomson, 2011).
The brief review of the literature in this paper illus-
trates that nurses are beginning to come to terms with
the need to adapt traditional mental health nursing when
working with people experiencing mental disorder and
who have a history of criminal offending or who present
a serious risk of such behavior. Forensic mental health nurs-
ing has been mired in a problematic discourse that posi-
tions the forensic context and antisocial behaviors of the
patient as impediments to good practice, rather than ac-
knowledging that a hybrid practice needs to develop that
satisfies professional nursing requirements, forensic/justice/
correctional service demands, community expectations,
176 www.journalforensicnursing.com
Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
and especially FSPs’ needs. These standards can assist
nurses to recognize what it is about forensic mental health
nursing that is ‘‘more’’ than simply practicing mental health
nursing in a forensic context.
h References
Aiyegbusi, A. (2002). Nursing interventions and future directions
with women in secure services. In A. M. Kettles, P. Woods, & M.
Collins (Eds.), Therapeutic interventions for forensic mental health
nurses (pp. 136Y150). London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Aiyegbusi, A., & Tuck, G. (2008). Caring amid victims and
perpetrators: Trauma and forensic mental health nursing. In
J. Gordon & G. Kirtchuk (Eds.), Psychic assaults and frightened
clinicians: Countertransference in forensic settings. Forensic
psychotherapy monograph series (pp. 11Y26). London, UK:
Karnac Books.
American Nurses Association and International Association of
Forensic Nurses. (2009). Forensic nursing: Scope and standards
of practice. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.
Austin, W. (2001). Relational ethics in forensic psychiatric settings.
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 39(9), 12Y17.
Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. (2011). Standards of
practice for Australian mental health nurses 2011. ACMHN,
Canberra.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2005). National
competency standards for the registered nurse. Australian
Capital Territory: Author. Retrieved from http://anmc.org.au/
userfiles/file/competency_standards/Competency_standards_
RN.pdf
Beal, G., Chan, A., Chapman, S., Edgar, J., McInnis-Perry, G., Osborne,
M., & Mina, E. S. (2007). Consumer input into standards revision:
Changing practice. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health
Nursing, 14, 13Y20.
Benson, R. (1992). The clinical nurse specialist in forensic settings.
In P. Morrison & P. Burnard (Eds.), Aspects of forensic psychiatric
nursing (pp. 45Y60). Avebury, UK: Aldershot.
Bowring-Lossock, E. (2006). The forensic mental health
nurseVA literature review. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental
Health Nursing, 13, 780Y785.
Burnard, P., & Morrison, P. (1995). Evaluating forensic psychiatric
nursing care. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 6(1), 139Y159.
Burrow, S. (1993). The role conflict of the forensic nurse. Senior
Nurse, 13(5), 20Y25.
Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses. (2006). Canadian
standards for psychiatric-mental health nursing (3rd ed.). Toronto,
ON: Author.
Chandley, M. (2002). Nursing interventions and future directions
with severely assaultive patients. In A. M. Kettles, P. Woods, &
M. Collins (Eds.), Therapeutic interventions for forensic mental
health nurses (pp. 102Y119). London, UK: Jessica Kingsley
Publishers.
Coffey, M. (2011). Resistance and challenge: Competing accounts
in aftercare monitoring. Sociology of Health and Illness, 33(5),
748Y760.
Coffey, M. (2012). Negotiating identity transition when leaving
forensic hospitals. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the
Social Study of Health, Illness & Medicine, 16(5), 489Y506.
Collins, M. (2000). The practitioner new to the role of forensic
psychiatric nurse in the UK. In D. Robinson & A. Kettles
(Eds.). Forensic nursing and multidisciplinary care of the
mentally disordered offender. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley
Publishers.
Volume 9 & Number 3 & JulyYSeptember 2013

Collins, M., & Davies, S. (2005). The security needs assessment
profile: A multidimensional approach to measuring security
needs. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 4(1),
39Y52.
Dale, C. (2001). Dual diagnosis. In C. Dale, T. Thompson, & P. Woods
(Eds.), Forensic mental health issues in practice (pp. 189Y202).
London, UK: Harcourt Publishers Limited.
Dale, C., & Gardner, J. (2001). Security in forensic environments:
Strategic and operational issues. In C. Dale, T. Thompson, & P.
Woods (Eds.), Forensic mental health issues in practice (pp.
251Y273). London, UK: Harcourt Publishers Limited.
Davison, S. (2004). Specialist forensic mental health services.
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 14, 19Y24.
Dhondea, R. (1995). An ethnographic study of nurses in a foren-
sic psychiatric setting: Education and training implications.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing,
4, 77Y82.
Doyle, J. (1999). A qualitative study of factors influencing psy-
chiatric nursing practice in Australian prisons. Perspectives in
Psychiatric Care, 35, 29Y36.
Doyle, M. (2000). Risk assessment and management. In C.
Chaloner & M. Coffey (Eds.), Forensic mental health nursing
current approaches (pp. 140Y170). Oxford, UK: Blackwell
Science.
Encinares, M., McMaster, J. J., & McNamee, J. (2005). Risk
assessment of forensic patients: Nurses’ role. Journal of
Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 43(3),
30Y36.
Fisher, A. (1995). The ethical problems encountered in psychiatric
nursing practice with dangerous mentally ill persons. Scholarly
Inquiry for Nursing Practice, 9(2), 193Y208.
Gasson, B. (2001). Relatives and carers. In N. McCelland, M.
Hummphreys, L. Conlon, & T. Hills (Eds.), Forensic nursing and
mental disorder in clinical practice (pp. 21Y27). Oxford, UK:
Butterworth Heinemann.
Haines, G. (2000). Working with the offender patient with
psychosis. In C. Chaloner & M. Coffey (Eds.), Forensic mental
health nursing current approaches (pp. 61Y77). Oxford, UK:
Blackwell Science.
Holmes, D., Perron, A., & Michaud, G. (2007). Nursing in correc-
tions: Lessons from France. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 3(3),
126Y131.
Humphreys, M., Oppong-Gyapong, E., & Mason, D. (2001). Legal
aspects. In N. McCelland, M. Humpherys, L. Conlon, & T. Hills
(Eds.), Forensic nursing and mental disorder in clinical practice
(pp. 97Y104). Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Jacob, D. J., Gagnon, M., & Holmes, D. (2009). Nursing so-called
monsters: On the importance of abjection and fear in forensic
psychiatric nursing. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 5, 153Y161.
James, L., Martin, T., & Vine, R. (1997). Families of forensic
psychiatric patients: Support and information needs project.
Victoria, Australia: Forensic Psychiatric Services.
Kent-Wilkinson, A. (2009). Forensic nursing education in North
America: Constructed definitions of forensic nursing. Journal
of Forensic Nursing, 5(4), 201Y211.
Kent-Wilkinson, A. (2011). Forensic nursing educational devel-
opment: An integrated review of the literature. Journal of
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18, 236Y246.
Kettles, A. M. (2004). A concept analysis of forensic risk. Journal
of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 11, 484Y493.
Kettles, A., Coffey, M., & Byrt, R. (2010). Ethics, debates and
dilemmas in forensic nursing. In M. Coffey & R. Byrt (Eds.),
Forensic mental health nursing ethics debated and dilemmas
(pp. 1Y13). London, UK: Quay Books.
Kitchiner, N. (1999). Empowerment of mentally disordered offend-
Journal of Forensic Nursing
Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Original Article
ers within a controlled environment. In P. Tarbuck, B. Topping-
Morris, & P. Burnard (Eds.), Forensic mental health nursing
strategy and implementation (pp. 93Y103). London, UK: Whurr
Publishers.
Lyons, T. (2009). Role of the forensic psychiatric nurse. Journal
of Forensic Nursing, 5, 53Y57.
MacInnes, D. (2000). Relatives and informal caregivers. In C.
Chaloner & M. Coffey (Eds.), Forensic mental health nursing cur-
rent approaches (pp. 208Y231). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science.
Martin, T. (2001). Something special: Forensic psychiatric
nursing. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing,
8(1), 25Y32.
Martin, T. (2010). Psychiatric nurses working with offence
paralleling behaviour. In M. Daffern, L. Jones, & J. Shine (Eds.),
Offence paralleling behaviour: A case formulation approach
to offender assessment and intervention (pp. 245Y260).
Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Martin, T., & Ryan, J. (2011). Forensic mental health nursing. In
K.-L. Edward, I. Munro, A. Robins, & A. Welch (Eds.), Mental
health nursing dimensions of praxis (pp. 443Y462). Victoria,
Australia: Oxford University Press.
Martin, T., & Street, A. (2003). Exploring evidence of the ther-
apeutic relationship in forensic psychiatric nursing. Journal of
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 10, 543Y551.
Mason, T. (2000). Managing protest behaviour: From coercion to
compassion. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing,
7, 269Y275.
Mason, T., Coyle, D., & Lovell, A. (2008). Forensic psychiatric
nursing: Skills and competencies: II. Clinical aspects. Journal
of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15, 131Y139.
Mason, T., Lovell, A., & Coyle, D. (2008). Forensic psychiatric
nursing: Skills and competencies: I. Role dimensions. Journal
of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15, 118Y130.
National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for
Scotland. (2000). A route to enhanced competence in foren-
sic mental health nursing. Edinburgh, Scotland: National Board
for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland.
Neville, C., Hangan, C., Eley, D., Quinn, J., & Weir, J. (2008).
Mental health nursing standards for Australia: A review of
current literature. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing,
17, 138Y146.
Niskala, H. (1986). Competencies and skills required by nurses
working in forensic areas. Western Journal of Nursing Research,
8(4), 400Y413.
Nizette, D., McAllister, M., & Marks, P. (2012). Stories in mental
health. Sydney, Australia: Elsevier.
O’Brien, A. P., Bobby, J. M., Hardy, D. J., & O’Brien, A. J. (2004).
Clinical indicators as measures of mental health nursing
standards of practice in New Zealand. International Journal of
Mental Health Nursing, 13, 78Y88.
Peternelj-Taylor, C. (1998). Forbidden love: Exploitation in the
forensic milieu. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental
Health Services, 36(6), 17Y23.
Peternelj-Taylor, C. (2001). Forensic psychiatric nursing: A work
in progress. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 39(9), 8Y10.
Peternelj-Taylor, C. (2008). Criminalization of the mentally ill.
Journal of Forensic Nursing, 4, 185Y187.
Peternelj-Taylor, C., & Bode, T. (2010). Have you read your
forensic nursing: Scope and standards of practice? Journal of
Forensic Nursing, 6, 55Y56.
Prebble, K., Kidd, J., O’Brien, A., Caryle, D., Mckenna, B., Crowe,
M., I Gooder, C. (2011). Implementing and maintaining
nurse-led healthy living program in forensic inpatient settings:
An illustrative case study. Journal of the American Psychiatric
Nurses Association, 17(2), 127Y138.
www.journalforensicnursing.com 177
 Original Article

Price, O., & Wibberley, C. (2012). An exploratory study
investigating the impact of the procedures used to manage
patient substance misuse on nurseYpatient relationships in a
medium secure forensic unit. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental
Health Nursing, 19(8), 672Y680.
Rask, M., & Aberg, J. (2002). Swedish forensic nursing care:
Nurses’ professional contributions and educational needs.
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 9, 531Y539.
Rask, M., & Levander, S. (2001). Interventions in the nurseYpatient
relationship in forensic psychiatric nursing care: A Swedish
survey. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 8,
323Y333.
Royal College of Nursing. (1997). Buying forensic mental health
nursing: An RCN guide for purchasers. London, UK: Royal
College of Nursing.
Royal College of Nursing. (2009). Health and nursing care in
the criminal justice service. RCN guidance for nursing staff.
London, UK: RCN. Publication code 003 307.
Schafer, P. E. (2002). Nursing interventions and future directions
with patients who constantly break the rules and test bound-
aries. In A. M. Kettles, P. Woods, & M. Collins (Eds.), Therapeutic
interventions for forensic mental health nurses (pp. 56Y71).
London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Skelly, C. (2001). Managing the transition from higher to lower
levels of security. In C. Dale, T. Thompson, & P. Woods. (Eds.),
Forensic mental health issues in practice (pp. 233Y241).
London, UK: Harcourt Publishers Limited.
Timmons, D. (2010). Forensic psychiatric nursing: A description
of the role of the psychiatric nurse in a high secure psychiatric
facility in Ireland. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health
Nursing, 17, 636Y646.
Toman, M. (1999). Forensic community mental health nurses and
their self-perceived role. In P. Tarbuk, B. Topping-Morris, & P.
Burnard (Eds.), Forensic mental health nursing strategy and
implementation (pp. 51Y61). London, UK: Whurr Publishers.
Turnball, J., & Beese, J. (2000). Negotiating the boundaries: The
experience of the mental health nurse at the interface with
the criminal justice system. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental
Health Nursing, 7, 289Y296.
United Kingdom Central Council. (1999). Nursing in secure
environments. London, UK: United Kingdom Central Council
for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.
Walker, H., Langton, D., & Thomson, L. (2011). ‘‘New to forensic’’:
Implementing a problem-based introductory eduction programme
for forensic practitioners in Scotland. Journal of Psychiatric and
Mental Health Nursing, 18(10), 934Y942.
Weiskopf, C. (2005). Nurses’ experience of caring for inmate
patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 49(4), 336Y343.

Erratum: Advocating for Pregnant Women in Prison: The Role of the Correctional Nurse
The last sentence of the abstract for the above article, should read:

Given the national emphasis on gender responsive treatment in prisons and jails, a window of opportunity exists to be a
voice for these women and make significant changes in health care for this largely underserved population.

Reference:
Ferszt GG, Hickey JE, Seleyman K. Advocating for pregnant women in prison: The role of the correctional nurse. Journal of
Forensic Nursing. 9(2), 105Y110.

178 www.journalforensicnursing.com Volume 9 & Number 3 & JulyYSeptember 2013

Copyright © 2013 International Association of Forensic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.