A nursing student is interested in the specialty of forensic nursing and asks a nurse working in the field, “In what setting is a forensic nurse likely to practice?” Which of the following would be an appropriate response?

Question

Jails, hospices, or state psychiatric hospitals Home health, prisons, or state psychiatric hospitals Home health, hospices, or secure units in general hospitals Jails, secure units in general hospitals or state psychiatric hospitals

Answer 1

An appropriate response would be: Jails, secure units in general hospitals, or state psychiatric hospitals.

Forensic nurses often work in settings where there is a need for the intersection of healthcare and the legal system, such as jails, secure units in hospitals that manage mentally ill patients who may pose a risk, and state psychiatric hospitals that deal with individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system.