Nursing in the American Justice System

Shelton, Dinah; Maruca, Annette T.; Wright, Ranee’ Maree’

doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.019

Cited by 9 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…These findings in many ways are not surprising given the universal complexity of mental health and addiction issues experienced by incarcerated persons globally, and the challenges of providing appropriate care for this group within the correctional milieu. Moreover, these findings are consistent with other research and scholarship (Durcan & Zwemstra, 2014;Ellis & Alexander, 2017;Kolodziejczak & Sinclair, 2018;Kucirka & Ramirez, 2019;Reingle Gonzalez & Connell, 2014;Shelton et al, 2020). In Canada, as in other countries, criminalization of mental illness is a terse reality (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2012;Peternelj-Taylor, 2008), where correctional facilities have become "defacto psychiatric institutions" (Chaimowitz, 2012, p. 5).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Historically, nurses who chose to work in correctional environments often experienced professional stigma, as they were seen as second class nurses, unable to secure employment elsewhere (Peternelj-Taylor & Johnson, 1995). And while correctional nursing, as a specialized area of nursing practice, has experienced transformational developments in recent years, Shelton et al (2020), in a review of nursing in the American Justice System, acknowledge professional and public stigma remains an ongoing obstacle to the future of correctional nursing. In this study, we focused on a niche, yet underserved area of nursing practice.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exploration of correctional nurses learning needs and professional role development within the context of their unique work environments provides foundational information that will direct future practice developments, research, and innovations in workforce development and continuing education, and contribute to evidence informed quality care for incarcerated persons within Western Canada. The ongoing evolution of correctional nursing as a specialty is dependent on nursing leaders to promote and nurture the development of a nursing culture that embraces nursing research; facilitates the translation and interpretation of research relevant to practice within the correctional milieu; and engage in the collaborative identification of research questions for further study (Dhaliwal & Hirst, 2016;Peternelj-Taylor, 2020;Peternelj-Taylor & Woods, 2020;Shelton et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correctional nursing in Canada’s Prairie provinces: Roles, responsibilities, and learning needs

Woods

2021

Can J Nurs Res

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Background Nurses represent the largest group of health care professionals working with incarcerated persons, yet there is limited understanding of their learning needs, or their roles and responsibilities; and what is known is poorly disseminated. Purpose The goal of this research was to describe the roles, responsibilities, and learning needs of correctional nurses practicing in provincial correctional facilities in Alberta and Manitoba, and to add these data to the existing data set from Saskatchewan. Methods Three hundred and forty nurses working in provincial correctional facilities in western Canada were invited to complete a self-administered online survey consisting of a Learning Needs Assessment questionnaire (demographic information, knowledge and learning needs, and professional development); and the Staff Questionnaire (which targeted specific skill sets relevant to clinical practice in secure environments). Eighty-two nurses completed the online survey (overall response rate 24%). Results Overall, those who participated were experienced in nursing and correctional nursing. The learning needs they identified aligned with their correctional nursing roles and unique practice settings. In particular, issues related to the care of incarcerated persons with mental health disorders and related care were paramount (self-harming behaviours, suicide, mental health assessments in general). In response to the five comprehensive skill sets assessed in the Staff Questionnaire, respondents rated their involvement and importance of the individual skills as important to varying degrees. Conclusions The results of this survey shed light on contemporary developments in correctional nursing within provincial correctional facilities in western Canada and provide a foundation for continuing professional education and development, practice, and future research initiatives.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correctional nursing in Canada’s Prairie provinces: Roles, responsibilities, and learning needs

Woods

2021

Can J Nurs Res

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“…This study addresses the geographical and nursing specialty knowledge gaps by providing data on Californian prison nurses. Although the prison nurse group sample size was small, our study may be considered a pilot study, contributing knowledge related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of the need for data on the correctional nursing workforce [ 2 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, an estimated 27,743 registered nurses (RNs) were actively working at United States (U.S.) correctional facilities, which include state prisons, as their primary employment, accounting for 0.8% of the U.S. RN population [ 1 , 2 ]. Throughout the pandemic, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [ 3 ] and the National Academy of Medicine [ 4 ] have advocated for the occupational mental health and wellbeing of healthcare workers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working Conditions and Wellbeing among Prison Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Comparison to Community Nurses

Guardiano

Boy

Shapirshteyn³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The psychological health and work challenges of nurses working in prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic are understudied. We evaluated the work and wellbeing characteristics of a California prison nurse group, with a comparison to those of a community nurse group. From May to November 2020, an online survey measured psychosocial and organizational work factors, sleep habits, psychological characteristics, COVID-19 impacts, and pre-pandemic recall among 62 prison nurses and 47 community nurses. Prison nurses had significantly longer work hours (54.73 ± 14.52, p < 0.0001), higher pandemic-related work demands, and less sleep hours (5.36 ± 1.30, p < 0.0001) than community nurses. Community nurses had significantly higher pandemic-related fear levels (work infection: p = 0.0115, general: p = 0.0025) and lower perceived personal protective equipment (PPE) supply (p = 0.0103). Between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, both groups had significantly increased night shift assignments and decreased sleep hours, but the prison group had increased work hours. Although not statistically significant, both groups had high occupational stress and prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Our results indicate that prison nurses experienced work and wellbeing challenges during the pandemic. Future research and practice ought to address nurses’ workload, PPE, and psychological resources in correctional facilities and healthcare organizations.

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