Essentials of Correctional Nursing

This book reviews the body of knowledge and practice standards that define the specialty of correctional nursing. The text also describes the health care needs of the youth, men, and women who are incarcerated in jails, prisons, and detention centers. The book supports correctional nurses by providing guidance and resources about the best practices to deliver nursing care that reduces suffering and improves the quality of life for incarcerated individuals, their families, and the community at large. The book is divided into four parts. Part I presents an overview of correctional nursing with chapters covering the ethical principles and legal considerations involved, and safety aspects of the nurse and the patient. The nurse-patient relationship is imposed on both the inmate and the nurse by the governmental entity that is responsible for providing the medical service. The second part talks about the health concerns and diseases of the inmates. These include discussions on alcohol and drug withdrawal, chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, arthritis, dental conditions, end-of-life care, women’s and juveniles’ health care, infectious diseases, mental health and pain management. Part III deals with the nursing care process with presentations on health screening, sick call and emergency care. The last part of the book discusses the professional roles and responsibilities on the nurses in correction centers. One of the chapters in this section discusses research participation and evidence-based practice.