Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are both debilitating diseases that affect millions of individuals in the United States. In the correctional environment, the latest statistics by the Bureau of Justice indicate that “Arthritis” is the third largest chronic diagnosis for jail detainees and is the second largest chronic diagnosis for individuals incarcerated in prisons. Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are often thought of as the…
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Correctional Nurse Clinical Practice Update: Arthritis Management Behind the Wall
Arthritis is one of the top five chronic conditions found among our patient population, yet managing this debilitating condition is difficult in a secure setting. Our patients have limited access to therapeutic modalities and limited control over their daily activities. They are usually expected to walk on concrete floors and sleep on thin mattresses. Housing units stack bunk beds and…
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Correctional Nurse Professional Update: Implicit Bias – Recognizing What We Don’t See
Correctional nurses pride themselves on objectivity, fairness, and professionalism. Yet like all humans, we carry unconscious assumptions that can influence our decisions in ways we may not even recognize. These automatic attitudes and stereotypes, known as implicit bias, shape how we interpret patient behaviors, assess symptoms, and make clinical decisions. Behind the wall, where stigma and inequities already exist, unchecked bias…
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