Caring for and about the inmate population has a variety of challenges to overcome. Besides the dilemma of caring for a criminal, there is the issue of showing care and concern to this population.
‘Warm and Fuzzy’ is Not the Way to Care for Inmates
Many healthcare environments allow, and even encourage, physical expressions of caring such as touching the arm, patting the shoulder, or holding a hand during a painful procedure. These are not appropriate caring behaviours in the corrections setting. These actions in the correctional setting can frequently be sexualized and misinterpreted as making advances. Touching the patient is limited to necessary procedures and treatments.
Firm, Fair and Consistent
Verbal interactions with inmate patients require similar boundaries. Idle chat or asking personal questions which may come naturally in other care settings are inappropriate in corrections. Being firm, fair and consistent in all communication with the patient reduces misinterpretation. A goodly amount of inmates have socially deviant or manipulative behavior patterns. This group of inmates will prey on staff members with insecurities or poor self-esteem. Being ever vigilant to deflect these behaviors can establish the necessary boundaries for good nursing care.
Caring by Protecting from Themselves
Another avenue of caring in correctional nursing is though protecting the inmate from breaking custody rules. Establishing and maintaining barriers in the care environment prevents access to contraband or opportunity for theft. Keeping narcotics, sharps, syringes, and dental equipment under constant observation or locked away prevents the inmate from taking a foolish action that could cause harm to themselves or others.
Caring by Advocating within the Custody Environment
My final thought is that correctional nurses care through advocacy for inmate healthcare needs within the custody environment. I have great respect for my custody colleagues – they provide protection and safety 24/7 in very challenging situations. Sometimes the goals of security and healthcare conflict. Depending on the situation, advocating for a patient’s health need can be percieved as counter to the immediate security needs or the general goals of the facility. Challenging the status quo in these circumstances is an act of caring.
What other ways do you think correctional nurses care for their patients? Leave a comment
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Being a nurse, new to corrections, this in fact, has been a learning process for me. I feel strongly that we must see our patient’s as humans beyond all other factors. I am finding that things we (civilians) take for granit mean a great deal to the inmate. By asking their permission to, as an example, take their vital signs for many of them something that has been taken away- The humiliation and degrading experience of being incarcerated, being told,when, how and what they must do, is dehumanizing. If I am to be a nurse who is to, as you mention in the article, “better not to know their crimes” as to be objectionable in an enviroment, where I can’t be “warm & fuzzy”; I do believe I must make every effort to provide my patient a bit of basic humanity in a “nonhumanly” enviroment.
Bravo, Shirley! You are on the right track. Dehumanization is so prevalent in corrections and it is easy to drift in that direction when working in that environment over time. I appreciate your perspective and your desire to treat your patients with dignity. Lorry
Hi, Lorry.
Two things:
First, I agree that since nursing is a caring profession we as correctional nurses must find ways to express caring toward incarcerated patients. There are many ways to do this while still maintaining boundaries. As long as the focus of correctional nurses’ caring is health related and in respect to the environment we can support our actions.
Secondly, I somewhat disagree with the idea that as correctional nurses we should never know, or avoid knowing, our clients’ criminal histories. Criminal histories can provide insights into behaviors much as educational/social histories can. I agree that correctional nursing care may not be based upon criminal history.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Laurie! It is difficult to remain unaffected by our patient’s criminal past. I have never felt the advantages outweigh the disadvantages but I see your perspective.