What to Expect as a Correctional Care Nurse and How to Avoid Burnout in Challenging Settings (2023)

With more than2.1 million adults incarcerated in America’s prisons and jails, (PDF, 543 KB), there is a great need for health care providers to support this underserved population. Many people taken into custody are experiencing serious and preexisting health issues, while others will need medical attention to address illness and injury that occurs during incarceration.

The demand for health care professionals, especially nurses, is high and expected to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,employment of registered nurses is expected to increase 15 percent between 2016 and 2026, whileemployment of nurse practitioners is set to increase 36 percent. Correctional care is no exception to this trend.

Health care is a field that requires compassion — but this is especially true for those working in correctional health care. It requires the ability to see beyond someone’s criminal record and provide the best possible support for every patient, many of whom did not have access to health care prior to being brought into custody. This resource will address the unique considerations of entering into a career in correctional health care, including strategies for identifying and addressing corrections fatigue.

Understanding the Correctional System Population

Working in a correctional setting means working with a vulnerable and underserved population. A2016 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics on the health issues in American prisons and jails (PDF, 910 KB)found that incarcerated individuals were more likely than the general population to experience chronic conditions and infectious disease. Of those surveyed, 40 percent reported having a current chronic medical condition, while 21 percent of individuals in prison and 14 percent of individuals in jail reported a history of tuberculosis, hepatitis B or C, or other STDs (excluding HIV or AIDS).

The prominence of health issues in correctional facilities is compounded by the fact that many incarcerated people do not have consistent access to treatment, meaning they arrive with undiagnosed conditions.

“We see our patients at their worst,” said Richard Hammel, the nursing program manager for the Denver Sheriff Department.

When an individual arrives for the intake process, Hammel and his colleagues are tasked with performing an initial medical exam. He said that many of his patients find out for the first time that they have an existing condition like hypertension or that they have contracted an infectious disease.

Others may show signs of substance abuse, in which case they are taken through a detox process.Many incarcerated patients also show symptoms of mental illness, (PDF, 454 KB) which necessitates further care from clinicians.

A 2017 report from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics assessed the prominence of mental health treatment in U.S. prisons and jails based on a 2011-12 survey of incarcerated people. Of the incarcerated individuals surveyed, 63 percent reported receiving mental health treatment once they were admitted to a prison, compared to 44.5 percent of individuals who received treatment after they were admitted to a jail facility.

Go to a tabular version of “Mental Health Treatments Among Incarcerated Adults.”

What Is the Role of a Correctional Nurse?

Nurses are critical in the continuum of care for people who are incarcerated. While procedures can vary from facility to facility, nurses are typically the first point of contact. Correctional nurses perform intake exams, distribute daily medications and assess when a patient may need to see a specialist for further observation.

Given the responsibilities of a correctional nurse, paired with the range of health issues they encounter, it’s important to have a broad skill set that includes dealing with chronic medical conditions, substance abuse, mental health, infectious disease and injuries. Having experience in an emergency room setting, for example, may help a nurse more easily transition to working in a correctional setting.

Correctional nurses are also expected to work autonomously in most cases, which can be a desirable aspect of the job to many in the nursing profession.

As for specialized training, there is no universal standard for experience or certifications for nurses in order to be hired to work in a correctional facility.Most facilities instead institute on-the-job training to prepare their health care staff, according to the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Correctional nurses do have the option of earning certifications from theNational Commission on Correctional Health Careor theAmerican Correctional Association to hone their specialized skills.

Health Care in Correctional Facilities

It takes a team to care for an incarcerated population. Below are some examples of the points care providers offer to meet the physical and psychological needs of those in correctional facilities.

How Does Working in Correctional Health Care Differ from Traditional Settings?

While the mission of a correctional nurse is the same as any nurse — to provide the best possible care for every patient —working in a correctional facility has some distinct differences from traditional health care settings.

Correctional facility protocols are, in a word, strict. The presence of a deputy or corrections officer is required during exams, making it difficult to maintain patient-provider confidentiality. When an individual knows someone else is listening, they may not feel comfortable speaking openly about their health problems.

The safety and security measures of a correctional facility may be unfamiliar to those who have only worked in traditional health care environments, but correctional nurses and clinicians can still provide compassionate care for their patients. For example, Hammel said that he and his staff are trained to assess whether it is safe to ask the officer on watch to step out briefly during an exam. This helps build trust with the patient so they are less likely to withhold any relevant information that may impede their care plan.

The need to be vigilant and protective of one’s personal information is another aspect of the job that may feel foreign to health care providers outside of the correctional environment. Providers are advised not to share any details about their life outside of work with patients who are incarcerated, which can create some barriers for building trust and showing empathy.

“Sometimes nurses like to use themselves as a tool in treatment and share stories [to empathize]. That is just something you can’t do here,” Hammel said.

Instead, Hammel implements the following strategies when building rapport with his patients:

There is also a perception that treating individuals in a correctional setting is less safe than working in a traditional environment. However, Hammel said that, in his experience, this perception is largely a myth.

“I have never felt afraid or been attacked [in the workplace],” he said. “There are deputies close by to step in and make sure everyone is safe, both the patient and the health care worker.”

Other correctional nurses have voiced similar sentiments, saying thatworking in a correctional facility often feels safer than in a hospital.While there is not current data to compare the experiences of correctional nurses to those in traditional settings, safety and security are top priorities for correctional facilities. The presence of correctional officers, the access to call buttons in every room, and training to identify the early signs of escalating and agitated behavior are all factors in preventing incidents between patients and providers.

The Silent Danger of Working in Corrections: Employee Burnout

Whilecompassion fatigue is a common term known among health care providers, clinicians and other professionals working in a correctional facility may experience a more specific feeling known ascorrections fatigue.

Corrections fatigue is “the cumulative negative change over time of corrections professionals’ personality, health and functioning” that results from poor coping strategies or a lack of resources necessary for the requirements specific to working in a correctional facility, said Caterina Spinaris, executive director of Desert Waters Correctional Outreach in Florence, Colorado.

Corrections fatigue occurs when someone experiences a series of stressors during their day-to-day life. “These stressors interact,” Spinaris said. “They are cumulative.”

Environmental factors can be broken down into three categories:

Organizational

Stressors related to the interaction between people in the workplace, including colleagues, leadership and the overall culture of a professional setting.

See Also

Best 25 Fast Fashion Brands In 2022 (Top Popular & Unknown Firms)DeSantis sends migrants to Martha's Vineyard, lashing out against President Biden's border policyWhat Is a Digital Nomad and How Do You Become One?The Coolest Sunglasses Styles For Men: Summer 2022

Traumatic

Stressors related to the presence of violence, injury or death. This can include the loss of a patient, witnessing violence or the general suffering of incarcerated populations.

Operational

Stressors related to the process or support in a facility, such as a lack of resources, equipment or staffing needed to do a job well.

This form of burnout can be avoided so that correctional professionals can provide the best possible care for incarcerated people.

Signs and Symptoms of Corrections Fatigue

You may be experiencing corrections fatigue if you have:

How to Avoid Corrections Fatigue

Build your support system

This can include your partner, family members, fellow colleagues and friends.

Practice mindfulness

Find activities that help ease your stress and process your feelings. This can include journaling, meditation, exercise and other calming activities.

Find activities that don’t intersect with work

Finding a balance and separating your personal life from your work life can help avoid burnout. Hiking and outdoor activities, for example, put you in an environment that is completely different from your job.

Get help

If serious symptoms such as depression, panic attacks or substance abuse begin to manifest, consider seeking help from a mental health professional.

Citation for this content: Nursing@USC, theonline FNP programfrom the University of Southern California