Caring in Correctional Nursing

Abstract

Registered nurses are the primary healthcare providers for offenders in correctional facilities. The way in which correctional nurses care for offenders can be difficult in this context. Following a systematic review and narrative synthesis of literature regarding how correctional nurses show caring for offenders three themes emerged: the struggle of custody and caring (conflicting ethical and philosophical ideologies, correctional priorities that override nursing priorities, safety and security), the need to be nonjudgmental (judgmental attitudes can impact care; focus on health not the crime), and the importance of boundaries. Implications for practice focus on recommendations to promote caring in correctional nursing; the outcome of which will potentially enhance quality of care for offenders and improve working environments for nurses.

Correctional nursing in Canada’s Prairie provinces: Roles, responsibilities, and learning needs

“…The exploration of correctional nurses learning needs and professional role development within the context of their unique work environments provides foundational information that will direct future practice developments, research, and innovations in workforce development and continuing education, and contribute to evidence informed quality care for incarcerated persons within Western Canada. The ongoing evolution of correctional nursing as a specialty is dependent on nursing leaders to promote and nurture the development of a nursing culture that embraces nursing research; facilitates the translation and interpretation of research relevant to practice within the correctional milieu; and engage in the collaborative identification of research questions for further study (Dhaliwal & Hirst, 2016;Peternelj-Taylor, 2020;Peternelj-Taylor & Woods, 2020;Shelton et al, 2020).…”

Addressing Moral Distress in Correctional Nursing: A Call to Action

“…Caught between the dual mandates of custody requirements and the nursing value of caring, CNs often find it difficult to maintain the balance needed to carry out their duties (Carnevale et al, 2018;Dhaliwal & Hirst, 2016;Jacob, 2014;Maroney, 2005). Maintaining that balance often relies on the degree to which custody staff are accepting of health care services and the amount of pressure corrections officers place on CNs to adhere to custody perspectives about the incarcerated (Droes, 1994;Hardesty, Champion, & Champion, 2007).…”

“…In addition, CNs have reported vicarious trauma resulting from bullying behavior and demeaning comments made by custody staff. Emphasis on custody perspectives and controlling behaviors by custody staff can lead to role confusion and loss of nursing values (Carnevale et al, 2018;Dhaliwal & Hirst, 2016;Hardesty et al, 2007;Jacob, 2014;Weiskopf, 2005).…”

“…Entry into correctional settings with its strong emphasis on correctional priorities can be disorienting for new CNs, placing them at risk for loss of their nursing identity (Dhaliwal & Hirst, 2016;Sasso et al, 2018). In their position as the initial point of contact and primary link for health care access, CNs are in a unique position to have a strong impact on patient outcomes-positively or negatively.…”

“…Strengthening critical thinking and clinical decision making. (Carnevale et al, 2018;Dhaliwal & Hirst, 2016;Lazzari et al, 2020;Maeve & Vaughn, 2001;Sasso et al, 2018).…”