Are Correctional Nurses Outcasts?
Unfortunately, many correctional nurses do not even realize that they are engaging in a specialty practice. Belonging to a specialty practice is very exciting and something to be proud of; but practicing in a specialty area also has significant responsibilities.
Specialty areas are so designated by the American Nurses Association because the practice has unique aspects that make it different from general nursing practice. Having unique practice aspects brings with it the need to educate the nurses about the practice and to ensure that they have the skills necessary to practice competently within the practice. And since education is as much about role socialization as it about gaining knowledge, nurses need to be made aware of the behavior expected in the specialty area.
One of the “problems” with correctional nursing is that it is relatively unknown and isolated from mainstream nursing. One of the reasons for this is that mainstream nursing and academia, like the larger society, have a tendency to associate correctional nurses with inmates, who are social outcasts. This leads to a very definite bias against correctional nurses, who are often seen as being unworthy and perhaps unable to get a “good” nursing job.
Yet another reason for the isolation lies with correctional nurses themselves. Too often, we demonstrate that we are uncomfortable with our specialty by refusing or hesitating to tell others where we work. Another problem is that we have been very slow to develop a knowledge base about our specialty. There is very little correctional nursing research, and what little research is completed is often critical of correctional nurses. Furthermore, we do not publish our stories – either in correctional healthcare publications or mainstream nursing publications. This has two effects – it does not contribute to our knowledge base and it is yet another way of demonstrating shame in our chosen practice.
What do you think? Are correctional nurses outcasts in professional nursing? How can we change this?
Photo Credit: © Coka – Fotolia.com
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Comments
This is correct, maybe the issues surrounding to why correctional nursing having little research is because the attitudes and support of correctional nursing are not there internally. There continues to be outdated mindsets about nursing and how it is to be practiced in many facilities today. If you want change ,it has to start at the top with competent ” nurse mindful ” leadership. Can you suggest other publishers who might be interested in correctional nursing topics,besides NCCHC.
Good news, Dawn! We need more correctional nurses like you…..sharing our specialty in a positive way. Thanks for the encouraging comment.
As a retired warden of several institutions (including the United States “Supermax” Prison in Colorado), I am honored to have worked with correctional healhcare professionals. I never considered them “outcasts” in a negative manner.
From my experience, they represent the best of healthcare in America. Not only do they meet community standards, they exceed others in the profession by doing so in a correctional setting. They are exposed to ongoing harm while attempting to deliver medical care to their patients. It is not uncommon for medical staff to be at risk while delivering medicine to housing units or while using needles during injections for flu and TB.
Often the priorities of security and management exceed those in the medical department. Correctional healthcare staff continue to make a difference for the 2.3 million offenders in our system.
The public needs to be reminded of this fact: approximately 95 percent of all offenders will be released to the community. Our healthcare providers continue to address medical concerns for those in prison in order to protect prison staff and those in the community from disease.
I will attend the upcoming National Conference on Correctional Healthcare in Baltimore in October, and continue to honor those serving the medical needs of our inmate population in America.
Have a safe day.
Bob Hood
Warden (Ret.)
United States “Supermax” Prison
Yes, I do believe you are right! I have been a registered nurse for more then 20 years, with the last 7 years being in correctional institutions. I started back in May 2004, as an agency nurse, believing that this would be just a quick assignment for me, but, I ended up working for the state. I worked for the state approximately 5 1/2 years, then quit to pursue another opportunity. I have worked both in the Medical and Mental Health departments at different institutions, and I have learned quite a bit more than I thought I would! And it has been very interesting to say the least! And in response to your article, YES, sometimes, well, most of the time, I feel like people are judging “what type of a nurse” I am based on this. It’s unforunate, really, nurses out in the mainstream of healthcare, really have no idea of all that there is to be learned in this unique area. And I believe, that maybe the public has painted a rather ugly picture of what our profession actually does within these walls. Why should we feel embarrassed to say what we do? I know, hat I still per form all my nursing duties as other nurses do, only sometimes it’s more of a challenge!!
I too love my job, and am proud of what I do but I agree that it is out of the mainstream and an overlooked area in nursing education, nursing research, and publication. It is most certainly a speciality area requiring very strong nursing skills in a variety of areas.
I feel that many in the healthcare profession have an attitude that correctional nurses are unable to find a job in any other area, sort of a bottom of the barrel type of attitude. I graduated with highest honors and did my senior clincal practium in an ED, I thought that was where I was meant to be…and then I discovered correctional nursing purely by accident. Turned down an ED and ICU position and have not regretted it for a moment! Makes the ED seem rather boring and slow-paced! Since I am a relatively new nurse, I am fustrated by the lack of information/education that could help me to become better at my career. If anyone knows of any websites, publications, boodks that would be helpful to a
new correctional nurse, please post it!!!
I do struggle at times to explain my job, and found myself telling potential new hires “Welcome to Never-Never land” cuz you will find yourself saying “I never thought, I never imagined, I never knew…” I am sure that we all remember how we felt (and the strange thoughts) when confronted with our first assessment/blood draw/IV start on a handcuffed/shackled patient or the first time we had to assess someone in a restraint chair with a spit hood. I know that I thought I had been dropped into a scene from the Silence of the Lambs! I tell other nurses that I do everything that they do except I am performing under adverse conditions much of the time and the most tech piece of equipment I have is a pulse oximeter…so excellent assessment and critical thinking skills are an absolute requirement. On the plus side, I will never be trying to move 300 lb plus patients or restrain anyone….I have am so grateful and have so much respect for the officers that I work with!
I agree with JC about the internal aspect, and the need for more “mindful” nursing leadership in the profession. The majority of correctional nurses that I have met are LPNs, and some are excellent but I wonder if this contributes to a lack of understanding of the need for continuing education, defining the specaility, and use of evidence based practice–not there seems to be any out there in regards to correctional nursing. After practicing in this area I am convinced that it is a highly specailized area and I feel that the mininum license to practice should be a RN due to the high level of automony required.
Cowgirl RN
I’ve said that working in corrections was like falling through the looking glass…I’m glad to hear that you love your job since you are the future. I loved mine too – so much so that even though I am “officially” retired, I cannot leave it behind.
Times are a changing, and so are the preceptions of being a correctional nurse. I am a 27 year old male about to attend a BSN program. I haven’t even started the program yet and I am already looking forward to applying to a correctional facility. Lets face it, the money is a huge factor. I can care less what people think of my profession. I know that sounds bad, but I also know myself and know that I can treat and care for anyone. Regardless of their past.
I think serving the population in a correctional facility is most rewarding. The inmates are truly grateful for the care they receive. I feel it’s community nursing at its’ best without the hassle of medicare.
I do feel that the ANA should offer certification for Correctional Nursing since they recognize it as a specialty. I think this would bring validity to correctional nursing as a whole.
NO WAY. I LOVE MY JOB>AND PROUD OF IT. My nurse friends are very interested and intrigued about me being a jail nurse. Never a dull moment, autonomy and good judgement skills are required.