All nurses need to be concerned about legal risk in their nursing career no matter the specialty. Correctional nurses, however, have some specific areas of concern based on our unique setting and patient population. Because correctional nurses work in a custody environment designed to maintain security and order rather than for providing healthcare, conflict can occur between the goals of…
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Moral Distress and Correctional Nursing
Moral distress in nursing is described as a psychological imbalance or disequilibrium that occurs when nurses finding themselves in situations where they feel unable to do the right thing. This conflict can cause physical, emotional and spiritual suffering. The residual build up of continuing moral distress can lead to burnout and burden. Correctional nurses have unique situations that lead to…
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Correctional Nurse Clinical Update: Skin Assessment III
This week we are continuing our discussion of the patient in a correctional facility with a skin complaint. In our discussion, we will be using the SOAPE format for evaluation and documentation. When examining a patient with a skin complaint, it is very important to get a thorough history, including documentation of any allergies to foods, materials, and plants, and if this has ever…
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