Undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards incarcerated persons and their perceptions of clinical experiences

In 2019, an estimated 6.3 million persons were under the supervision of the United States adult correctional systems and one in 40 adult persons were under correctional supervision. At year-end of 2019, nearly seven in ten persons under correctional supervision were supervised in the community. A nurse's attitudes and beliefs about incarcerated persons may influence their behavior.

The purpose of this study was to examine nursing student's attitudes towards incarcerated persons and their perceptions of a clinical experience at a correctional facility.

Data from 137 nursing students were collected through a cross-sectional, electronic survey. The Attitude Towards Prisoners Scale (Melvin et al., 1985) was used. A post hoc analysis of perceptions of their clinical experience at a correctional facility was explored.

The mean scores of 93 and 94 (potential range of scores 0 to 144) suggest positive attitudes towards incarcerated persons exist, yet few nursing students report an interest in correctional nursing as a career. Although few (n = 5) students had a correctional nursing clinical experience, most perceived it as an effective clinical learning setting.

With high rates of incarceration, the researchers recommend that baccalaureate nursing programs include educational teaching strategies that focus on incarceration, incarceration stigma, and explore clinical learning experiences.