Nurse practitioners in the county correctional facility setting: unique challenges and suggestions for effective...

The correctional facility practice setting is among the newer practice specialties emerging for nurse practitioners (NPs). As with any new setting, a variety of unique challenges continues to emerge. Because there is a relative paucity of literature regarding NP practice in this particular specialty, those practicing now do not have adequate resources to assist in the development of their practice. This article discusses some of the challenges unique to this area of practice and offers suggestions for incorporating theory-based health promotion interventions. This article is also an effort to begin development of a body of knowledge for NPs providing primary, secondary, and tertiary care to the inmate population of jails and prisons. Hopefully, nurse practitioners in this unique setting will be encouraged to share their own anecdotal and research-based suggestions for improving correctional facility practice.