Theoretical Underpinnings And Scope Of Practice Of Forensic Mental Health

Forensic’ means related to, or associated with, legal issues. Forensic mental health services provide assessment and treatment of people with a mental disorder and a history of criminal offending, or those who are at risk of offending. There is considerable confusion surround the role and responsibility of FMHN. Also there is ongoing debate among those who is the field about what are important factors when determining whether it merits specialty status. Literature reflects no consistent terminology used to refer to FMHNs or the work they do. The theoretical underpinnings and scope of practice of FMHN are unclear resulting in debate about its appropriateness as a specialty area of practice. This exploration of the context of FMHN
It is not proved whether the FMHN is in specialty or not because: There are a plethora of definition and inconsistencies in the use of the term making it difficult to determine whether or not forensic mental health (FMH) nursing can be considered a specialty with in nursing. Theoretical underpinning and scope of practice of FMHN are unclear, resulting in debate about its appropriateness as a specialty area of practice. Forensic Mental Health Nursing would be mental health nursing in a particular environment or with a particular population and seen as specialty practice. Literature reflects both support for (Whyte, 2002) the view that FMH nursing is under pinned by unique knowledge or skills. Expressing opposition (Cashin, 2006) asserted of that FMH nursing is merely a sub specialty of psychiatric nursing, with distinct environment or group of
Whyte (1997) conclude that as a specialty Forensic Mental Health nursing does not exit, because therapeutic incarceration does not confer entitlement to the use of the term forensic. He maintains that the work of all MHN is affected by increasing amount of criminal activities in the society and the presence of security exists in many mental health care venues now. Cashin asserted that FMH nursing is merely a sub specialty of psychiatric nursing with a distinctive environment or group of patients. Borrow (1993b) strongly advocate that FMH nursing is a specialty, citing the existence of a range of phenomena which are sufficiently exclusive to confer a specialist status to the nursing role ,this include control and custody, risk assessment, addressing behaviors ,knowledge of illness conditions, criminal activities etc.
More research is necessary to learn whether specialty status for FMHNs is appropriate and upon what basis it is supportable.
3. Challenges experienced in defining forensic mental health