Forensic Mental Health Nursing
Overview
This unit provides mental health nurses with a greater understanding of the social, legal, political and clinical issues, including assessment and intervention skills that are required to work in forensic settings. The unit will equip students with knowledge regarding nursing interventions that are relevant to working with mental health service users in forensic settings, particularly those clients with challenging behaviours.
Requisites
Rule
Admission into:
GC-FMHN Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing
OR
GD-FMHN Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing
OR
MA-FBS Master of Forensic Behavioural Science
OR
GD-FBS Graduate Diploma of Forensic Behavioural Science
31-May-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply advanced knowledge of the different settings forensic mental health nurses work in and evaluate how these settings may impact on practice.
- Critically appraise the unique factors of the forensic therapeutic relationship within an ethical framework.
- Evaluate the different nursing assessments and interventions relevant to working with forensic mental health service users
- Analyse the unique challenges for nursing in forensic mental health settings and identify appropriate principles to work through these challenges
- Prioritise responsive and safe nursing care for forensic populations, inclusive of marginalised groups, with specific consideration of First Nations peoples.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn Online
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 150 | 12 weeks | 12.5 |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Analysis | Individual | 35% | 2,4 |
| Reflection | Individual | 35% | 3,4,5 |
| Presentation | Individual | 30% | 1,4 |
Content
- The forensic mental health nursing setting
- Mental illness and offending
- The therapeutic relationship
- Forensic mental health nursing assessment and intervention
- Challenges to care in the forensic setting
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.