Caring in Correctional Nursing: A Systematic Search and Narrative Synthesis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Criminology
• Healthcare Ethics

Background:

• Registered nurses are the primary healthcare providers in correctional facilities.
• Caring for offenders presents unique difficulties within the correctional environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how correctional nurses demonstrate caring for offenders.
• To identify key themes and implications for practice in correctional nursing.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature.
• Narrative synthesis of findings.

Main Results:

• Three emergent themes: the struggle between custody and caring, the necessity of being nonjudgmental, and the importance of maintaining boundaries.
• Conflicting ideologies, correctional priorities, and safety concerns impact the balance of custody and care.
• Nonjudgmental attitudes and clear boundaries are crucial for effective offender care.

Conclusions:

• Recommendations are proposed to foster caring practices in correctional nursing.
• Implementing these recommendations can enhance the quality of care for offenders.
• Improved caring practices may also lead to better working environments for nurses.