Author Question: A nurse testifies about care provided to a patient in the 8 hours before a successful suicide. The ... (Read 45 times)

tfester · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A nurse testifies about care provided to a patient in the 8 hours before a successful suicide. The nurse responds to questions about observations regarding the patient's behavior as well as interventions performed and documented during the shift.

In what capacity was this nurse testifying?

a. Forensic nurse examiner
b. Expert witness
c. Fact witness
d. Consultant

Question 2

During arraignment, a defendant behaves bizarrely, fails to respond to the judge's questions, and shouts obscenities. The judge orders an evaluation by a forensic nurse examiner.

Which information provided by the examiner will be most important to the court at this time?

a. The defendant's mental state at the time of the crime
b. The defendant's competence to proceed with trial
c. The cause of the defendant's courtroom behavior
d. The defendant's history and cognitive abilities

fwbard · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
A fact witness testifies regarding first-hand experience only; that is, the facts the witness possesses because of personal experience with the situation under review. Forensic nurse examiners conduct court-ordered examinations and provide written reports and court testimony regarding the findings of the examinations, but they do not give direct patient care. Consultants are neutral experts who educate or advise the court or its officers on technical matters such as standards of nursing care. An expert witness shares professional expertise about the defendant or elements of the crime and testifies on behalf of the prosecution or defendant.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Competence to proceed refers to one's capacity to assist the attorney and understand legal proceedings. In the United States, no one is tried unless deemed competent. An incompetent individual is remanded to a locked facility for treatment to regain competency. The court will desire a full assessment of the patient's present mental state related to his ability to assist in his own defense, but at this time, the court is not interested in his state of mind at the time of the original crime nor his history.