Answer to Question 1
ANS: D
To establish credibility as an expert witness and have one's opinion given equal weight to that of other professionals in court, the forensic nurse specialist must have current clinical expertise, trustworthiness, and a professional presentation style. The expert witness is an authority in a specialty area. If the expert has conducted research and published in the area, it is an added strength. Expert testimony is based on evidence-based practice. Forensic nurses with advanced degrees are more likely to be called upon as expert witnesses.
Answer to Question 2
ANS: D
Correctional nurses, like most direct-care nurses outside of corrections, have a professional responsibility to advocate for inmates regarding needed care. A psychiatric nurse would have an understanding of schizophrenia and recognize that the inmate's ability to process multistep instructions was impaired. Advocacy for the inmate is evident by educating the guard so he would not misperceive the reason the inmate did not respond. Documentation is needed for all nursing activities. Involving the psychiatrist might be of some value but is at best a passive form of advocacy, and again, as worded here, suggests that the nurse does not understand how schizophrenia contributed to the inmate's not responding to complex instructions.