Introduction
This article summarizes the report written by Susan Trossman (2013) that explored the scope and practice of correctional nurses in the USA. In the article “Ensuring standards are standard behind bars” the author premises on the argument that the primary role of nurses is “the protection, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations”, correction nursing is the provision of the same services for individuals under the jurisdiction of the criminal justice system. Nurse’s role in correctional facilities is not limited to provision of medical care; they are also responsible for security for the inmates and their own security. For this reason, an extensive, solid knowledge and expertise in the area of research is required for the purposes of removing harm that imparts nurse with the trainings required for such activity. Correctional nurses in most cases, under-trained to meet the needs of the job descriptions ascertained to them.
It takes special level of caring to be able to provide care for those people that have been rejected by the society and imprisoned for reasons that make them unworthy to fit in with regular people. However, there is much more to nursing than caring. Still, the prison setting makes the realization of nursing goals virtually impossible. Aspects of nursing practice such as safety of the nurse and patient, privacy of information, and the relationship between the nurse and patient in a mutual and professional way is compromised for the sake of security.
Susan Trosman borrows from ANA, 2007 report that indicated that the inmate /correctional officer harbors on inequality and hierarchy. While the “purpose of medicine is to diagnose, comfort, and cure, the purpose of correctional facilities although sometimes rehabilitative, is to punish through confinement.”It requires that a strong personal commitment to the ethical standards and love for the profession is mixed with a genuine desire to save mankind from suffering that nursing in correctional facility can realize the already established standards.
The context of provision of nursing facilities presents unique and challenging situation for correctional nurses. The study aimed at generating information that could be used to address specific problems. In the end, the article reasons that interventions tailored for the purposes of providing support systems for the nurse would be helpful in mitigating the concerns of nurses in correctional practice. While reading this report, it is important for one to understand that the primary job of inmates is the delivery of nursing care to the patients who are locked up. Within the hard environments, correctional nurses are challenged to provide safe nursing care, health education, and respond to the healthcare needs of innate patients. The problem that underscores this need is the absence of training to meet the needs.
The competency defined for Correctional Nurses is defined by the competencies registered Nurses and Graduate level prepared or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Competency is defined as the interaction of performance. The registered nurse is responsible for maintaining professional competence and accountable for each of the decisions made in the nursing practice.
The 16th Standard focuses on Environmental Health as the epitome of competency. Environmental Health requires Correctional Registered Nurse to Practice in an environmentally safe and Healthy manner. Environmental Health is the assessment and control of factors in the environment that can potentially affect health.
- Key to this is the knowledge of health concepts that assist in implementing environmental Health strategies
- The second part focuses on environmental risks for workers, patients and others in the correctional facilities.
Background of the Problem
The United States history with correctional nursing dates back to 1797 after opening of the New York City Newgate Prison. The founder of the prison, Thomas Eddy believed that prisoners like everybody had the chance to be educated and transformed to important people in the society. At the same time, he believed that like every other person, prisoners had the right to healthcare so he founded a prison hospital and pharmacy. Currently, the United States has over 1000 federal prisoners. While the United States government has provided healthcare services for most of prisoners, a lot still need to be done to ensure that prisoners have access to adequate healthcare. The United States Constitution demands the provision of healthcare for prisoners just as it does to ordinary citizens.
Correctional Nursing was first acknowledged as an important element of the Nursing Practice in 1985 by American Nursing Association. During the first time, the standard for practice was published as “Standards of Nursing Practice in Correctional Facilities”. Since 1985, the standard has gone under four revisions. The revision has been a function of Seventeen Correctional Nursing leaders representing various settings and Organizations.
Granted, the federal prisons in the United States have continually used the services of medical nurses for the purposes of providing healthcare services for prisoners. The challenge from the provision of these services is the quality and the absence of adequate training for most of the nurses. This report advocate for the enhancement of training so that nurses working condition must improve to facilitate not only quality of service but also the sole purpose of detention facilities.
The Review
Samples Used
The sample used in their report included Registered Nurses; HCMS that work full time, part time and on casual levels. In the study, the researchers used ninety five nurses who were
Setting: United States Federal Prisons
Method
The method uses included a research design that had two phases. The setting was Correctional Facilities in the United States. The participants have access to videoconferencing systems that allow the exchange of information. Eligible candidates must be registered nurses and other stakeholders in the field of nursing. The first segment will make the participants describe the scope of nursing practice at correctional facilities, the second scope would be identifying correctional nurses learning needs, third, improving the work environment. The fourth part would be an educational engagement that aims at addressing the shortcomings observed. The last part would be evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of intervention
Data Collection
The collection of data employed the use of both qualitative and quantitative data approaches. The methods uses included semi structured interviews, Delphi process, pre-intervention and focus groups.
Results
The research discovered that nurses practicing in correctional facilities had problems that accrue from the extended roles beyond the requirements of regular nursing activities. The ANA reported that there is skill and competencies upgrade training program organized to train nurses at correctional facilities meet the needs of the job requirements. The program aims to deliver education on various facets of nursing that include pathophsyology, pharmacology, orientation to public health, addictions and other health related illness.
Discussions
Clinical Implications
Report indicated that the barriers to effective provision of medication in correctional facilities is inhibited by the poor health status of correctional system population, volume of health care services needed, conflicts with security, the living environment, nurses to prisoners rations, the prevalence of common diseases such as hypertension, aggression, endocrine arousal, depression and violence.
Conclusion
The article reasons that high rates of diseases and illness among the patient population as well as inadequate funding for correctional healthcare are a recipe for endangering the patient and the inmates. The fact that most jails are sealed places limits the public’s awareness of how much the health standards of prisoners needs upgrading. Of the most importance is that increasing working conditions for nurses would translate into better healthcare for inmates and happier and much more productive nurses.
References
Trossmna, S. (2013) Ensuring standards are standard behind bars
Nurses work to review ANA document, promote corrections nursing practice: American Nursing Association; the AMERICAN NURSE: Accessed on 4th of July, 2012. http://www.theamericannurse.org/index.php/2011/12/05/ensuring-standards-are-standard-behind-bars/
