FORENSIC & CORRECTIONAL NURSING |
EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (LATEST 2025-
2026)
1. A person diagnosed with bipolar disorder ran out of money, did not refill a
lithium prescription, and then relapsed. After assaulting several people in the
community, this person was convicted and sentenced. Prior to parole, which
outcome has priority for the correctional nurse to achieve? The person:
a. agrees in writing to continue lithium therapy.
b. is reestablished on an appropriate dose of lithium.
c. lists community resources for prescription assistance.
d. agrees to a follow-up appointment in an outpatient clinic.
c. lists community resources for prescription assistance.
To increase medication adherence, reduce the risk of relapse, and prevent further
criminal activity due to mental illness, the persons awareness of community
resources for medication refills and medication-related services is the most
important outcome. Agreeing to take lithium, being reestablished on medication in
the jail, and agreeing to follow-up mental health care are important, but none of
these will address the primary reason for the criminal behavior: the relapse caused
by inability to access medication in the community.
,2. An inmate was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by
severe sexual abuse. One day this inmate sees a person with characteristics similar
to the perpetrator, has a flashback, and then attacks the person. Correctional
officers place the inmate in restraint. The correctional nurse should anticipate that
the inmate would react to restraint by:
a. committing to counseling to reduce the incidence of flashbacks.
b. becoming less likely to assault others during future flashbacks.
c. gradually calming and returning from the flashback to reality.
d. becoming more frightened, agitated, and combative.
d. becoming more frightened, agitated, and combative.
The correctional nurse recognizes that events occurring in the present reality are
likely to be incorporated into a flashback, leading the inmate to become more
frightened and desperate to escape. Even if no longer experiencing a flashback,
persons will likely reexperience their original trauma if restrained, including the
emotions experienced during that trauma, leading to increased fearfulness and
resistance to the jail restraints. Restraints are not likely to calm the individual or
reduce aggressiveness but instead increase the sense of helplessness and
desperation.
3. An inmate was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by
severe sexual abuse. One day this inmate sees a person with similar characteristics
,to the perpetrator, has a flashback, and then attacks the person. Correctional
officers place the inmate in restraint. Which action by the correctional nurse is
most appropriate?
a. Plan to meet with the inmate for debriefing after release from the required period
of restraint.
b. Support use of restraints as needed to control violent outbursts and assure the
safety of all inmates.
c. Contact a supervisor authorized to make an exception to the restraint policy and
explain why an alternate response is needed.
d. Confront the correctional officers who initiated the restraint, explain the
inappropriateness of this action, and request the inmates release.
c. Contact a supervisor authorized to make an exception to the restraint policy and
explain why an alternate response is needed.
Nurses have advocacy responsibilities, regardless of the setting. The optimum
outcome in this situation would be to minimize the duration of the restraint
episode. The inmate and others are at risk of injury until the inmate is calm. The
restraints will likely worsen and extend the inmates distress and agitation.
Supporting the use of restraints ignores the need of select inmates for alternate
responses that do not paradoxically worsen the situation instead of help it. Meeting
with the patient to calm her after her release would be the second most helpful
response, but it does not shorten the duration of the patients restraint. Confronting
the officers is unlikely to be successful, since they are following proper
procedures; accusing them of improper actions will likely increase defensiveness
rather than expedite the inmates release from restraint.
, 4. The correctional nurse assesses a new prisoner beginning incarceration after
committing a sex crime. The prisoner speaks in a low voice and tearfully tells the
nurse, My life might as well be over. There is no hope I will ever fit into society
after I get out of prison. My family disowned me. Select the nurses priority action.
a. Advise guards to place the inmate in solitary confinement.
b. Offer to contact the inmates family to convey these feelings of remorse.
c. Alert the guards of the risk for suicide and implement suicide precautions.
d. Meet with the inmate weekly to discuss these feelings and explore coping
strategies.
c. Alert the guards of the risk for suicide and implement suicide precautions.
The inmate is experiencing significant shame and self-loathing, facing many
significant losses (freedom, status in the community, perhaps his career), separated
from his support system, and evidences hopelessness. These all suggest a
significant risk of suicide. The priority response would be to alert the guards of the
inmates risk to self and implement suicide precautions. Safety is the primary issue;
none of the other options is appropriate relative to suicide prevention
EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (LATEST 2025-
2026)
1. A person diagnosed with bipolar disorder ran out of money, did not refill a
lithium prescription, and then relapsed. After assaulting several people in the
community, this person was convicted and sentenced. Prior to parole, which
outcome has priority for the correctional nurse to achieve? The person:
a. agrees in writing to continue lithium therapy.
b. is reestablished on an appropriate dose of lithium.
c. lists community resources for prescription assistance.
d. agrees to a follow-up appointment in an outpatient clinic.
c. lists community resources for prescription assistance.
To increase medication adherence, reduce the risk of relapse, and prevent further
criminal activity due to mental illness, the persons awareness of community
resources for medication refills and medication-related services is the most
important outcome. Agreeing to take lithium, being reestablished on medication in
the jail, and agreeing to follow-up mental health care are important, but none of
these will address the primary reason for the criminal behavior: the relapse caused
by inability to access medication in the community.
,2. An inmate was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by
severe sexual abuse. One day this inmate sees a person with characteristics similar
to the perpetrator, has a flashback, and then attacks the person. Correctional
officers place the inmate in restraint. The correctional nurse should anticipate that
the inmate would react to restraint by:
a. committing to counseling to reduce the incidence of flashbacks.
b. becoming less likely to assault others during future flashbacks.
c. gradually calming and returning from the flashback to reality.
d. becoming more frightened, agitated, and combative.
d. becoming more frightened, agitated, and combative.
The correctional nurse recognizes that events occurring in the present reality are
likely to be incorporated into a flashback, leading the inmate to become more
frightened and desperate to escape. Even if no longer experiencing a flashback,
persons will likely reexperience their original trauma if restrained, including the
emotions experienced during that trauma, leading to increased fearfulness and
resistance to the jail restraints. Restraints are not likely to calm the individual or
reduce aggressiveness but instead increase the sense of helplessness and
desperation.
3. An inmate was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by
severe sexual abuse. One day this inmate sees a person with similar characteristics
,to the perpetrator, has a flashback, and then attacks the person. Correctional
officers place the inmate in restraint. Which action by the correctional nurse is
most appropriate?
a. Plan to meet with the inmate for debriefing after release from the required period
of restraint.
b. Support use of restraints as needed to control violent outbursts and assure the
safety of all inmates.
c. Contact a supervisor authorized to make an exception to the restraint policy and
explain why an alternate response is needed.
d. Confront the correctional officers who initiated the restraint, explain the
inappropriateness of this action, and request the inmates release.
c. Contact a supervisor authorized to make an exception to the restraint policy and
explain why an alternate response is needed.
Nurses have advocacy responsibilities, regardless of the setting. The optimum
outcome in this situation would be to minimize the duration of the restraint
episode. The inmate and others are at risk of injury until the inmate is calm. The
restraints will likely worsen and extend the inmates distress and agitation.
Supporting the use of restraints ignores the need of select inmates for alternate
responses that do not paradoxically worsen the situation instead of help it. Meeting
with the patient to calm her after her release would be the second most helpful
response, but it does not shorten the duration of the patients restraint. Confronting
the officers is unlikely to be successful, since they are following proper
procedures; accusing them of improper actions will likely increase defensiveness
rather than expedite the inmates release from restraint.
, 4. The correctional nurse assesses a new prisoner beginning incarceration after
committing a sex crime. The prisoner speaks in a low voice and tearfully tells the
nurse, My life might as well be over. There is no hope I will ever fit into society
after I get out of prison. My family disowned me. Select the nurses priority action.
a. Advise guards to place the inmate in solitary confinement.
b. Offer to contact the inmates family to convey these feelings of remorse.
c. Alert the guards of the risk for suicide and implement suicide precautions.
d. Meet with the inmate weekly to discuss these feelings and explore coping
strategies.
c. Alert the guards of the risk for suicide and implement suicide precautions.
The inmate is experiencing significant shame and self-loathing, facing many
significant losses (freedom, status in the community, perhaps his career), separated
from his support system, and evidences hopelessness. These all suggest a
significant risk of suicide. The priority response would be to alert the guards of the
inmates risk to self and implement suicide precautions. Safety is the primary issue;
none of the other options is appropriate relative to suicide prevention
