Correctional Nurse Considerations

About this course

In the correctional setting, the correctional nurse provides professional nursing and care to incarcerated individuals, who are their patients in various public and private correctional facilities, including juvenile detention centers, county jails, prisons, and state and federal holding facilities. The role of a correctional nurse varies by institution; however, all nurses must be proficient in meeting the common needs of the incarcerated patients that they care for, all while assisting in maintaining a safe, secure environment for themselves, their patients, and other staff members.

Learning objectives

• Identify the difference between an inmate and an incarcerated patient.
• Describe the role of the correctional nurse.
• Review therapeutic communication, and how it can influence the care that is given to the incarcerated patient.
• Understand how to assist in maintaining safety within the correctional environment.
• Understand the seven guiding principles for the correctional nurse.

Course outline

7 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   The number of those incarcerated in our nation's prisons and correctional facilities is increasing, and just like regular civilians, incarcerated people have medical conditions that must be appropriately treated within a reasonable time frame. In the correctional setting, the correctional nurse prov

   4 min

2. 2

   The Role of the Correctional Nurse

   The role of a correctional nurse varies by institution; however, all nurses must be proficient in meeting the common needs of patients that they serve. ¹ In the instance of incarceration, nurses who care for incarcerated patients must provide the same care that they would provide to a patient who is

   4 min

3. 3

   Therapeutic Communication for the Correctional Nurse

   Therapeutic communication is described as the face-to-face communication technique between a healthcare professional and a patient that aims to enhance the patient's comfort, safety, trust, health, and well-being. Correctional nurses use therapeutic communication techniques to provide education and

   4 min

4. 4

   Workplace Safety

   One of the main concerns when working within the correctional environment is workplace safety. There are various concerns in regard to safety, and the notion does not solely rest on the behaviors of the incarcerated person. The following are considerations to maintaining workplace safety⁴:

   5 min

5. 5

   Legal Considerations

   Legal implications of nursing practice are based on licensure, scope of practice, standards of nursing care, the state nursing practice act and other state and federal laws, and an expectation that a nurse will practice at a high professional standard which is framed by a nurse’s education, licensur

   4 min

6. 6

   Ethical Considerations

   Ethical situations may arise often with the correctional nurse. These situations may be due to the nurse-patient relationship and its defining barriers and being a patient advocate while providing safe patient care of one who is incarcerated. ³ Although the nurse-patient relationship is based on the

   4 min

7. 7

   Conclusion

   Correctional nurses are the foundation of the healthcare environment within a correctional setting. At most correctional facilities, correctional nurses provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The care provided varies, such as the initial intake encounter, where the inmate will have the oppo

   4 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

• American Nurses Association. (2020). Correctional nursing scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.).
• Continuity of care. (n.d.). NCCHC leads in correctional health care accreditation and certification. https://www.ncchc.org/cnp-continuity
• Ethical and legal issues. (n.d.). NCCHC leads in correctional health care accreditation and certification. https://www.ncchc.org/cnp-ethical-legal
• Gunderson, A. (2022). Inmate lawsuits and private prisons. Captive Market, 78-106. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197624135.003.0004
• Legal issues. (n.d.). NCCHC leads in correctional health care accreditation and certification. https://www.ncchc.org/legal-issues
• Professional development. (n.d.). NCCHC leads in correctional health care accreditation and certification. https://www.ncchc.org/cnp-prof-development
• Safety for the nurse and the patient. (n.d.). Essentials of Correctional Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826109521.0004
• Schonely, L. (2016). Is correctional nursing for you? Quick start for correctional nurses.
• Therapeutic communication in correctional nursing. (n.d.). NCCHC leads in correctional health care accreditation and certification. https://www.ncchc.org/cnp-therapeutic-communication
• Therapeutic communication in correctional nursing. (n.d.). NCCHC leads in correctional health care accreditation and certification. https://www.ncchc.org/cnp-therapeutic-communication

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