The role of the mental health nurse MHN) while always having the same basic skills set will have a different emphasis within the various service settings such as Community, Acute or Forensic which is the topic of this essay
The forensic MHN specialises in the assessment and treatment of people who may be mentally ill and are normally in the criminal justice system with the service provided in a secure environment. They may also work with victims and others on the edge of the system such as those where other services are unable to cope with them due to their behaviour disrupting others (rethink 2011).