Correctional Nursing

In an environment where healthcare is not the primary mission, patient advocacy can be challenging, but it is a critical role for correctional nurses. You’ll advocate on behalf of patients in need of resources, education, and interventions.

Correctional nurses examine patients in the correctional environment, evaluate their response to treatment, and monitor their progress.

Correctional nurses provide mental health and emotional support for their patients and sometimes their families, and when necessary, refer them to appropriate mental health resources.

Correctional nurses work in collaboration with healthcare providers, ancillary staff and non-medical correctional staff to promote patient health and wellness. Understanding of the correctional nursing role and the custody role is important to successful collaboration and ultimately, patient outcomes.

Patient education is one of the most important roles of correctional nurses. You will educate patients about their chronic diseases, self-care strategies, their treatment plan, and preventive health care. In addition to patient education, correctional nurses educate nonmedical and healthcare staff in emergency medical response, infection control and disease prevention.

Nursing leadership in correctional settings requires expertise in nursing practice and recognition of their position as the onsite healthcare authority. The correctional nurse leader shall be able to think strategically and have a view of the entire system. This person must be grounded in professional practice, be agile, persevere, and be willing to drive professional practice and safe care. This person must have the capacity for resilience.

Correctional nurses are an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team at the facility. In addition, there are opportunities to lead, guide, support and supervise healthcare staff, develop policies and procedures, and in general, ensure that the healthcare program is providing quality care to the patients.

Correctional nurses provide direct patient care, including medication administration, wound care, nebulizer treatments, and other more complex care based upon the patient’s treatment plan.