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An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses the significance of compassion for prisoners and their collaborative relationship with prison officers.

In the United States, information about a person's criminal history is accessible with a name and date of birth. Ruth Crampton has studied nurses' care for prisoner-patients in hospital settings and found care to be perfunctory and reactive. This article examines whether it is morally permissible for nurses in hospital settings to access information about prisoner-patients' criminal histories. Nurses may argue for a right to such information based on the right to personal safety at work or the obligation to provide prisoner-patients with the care that they deserve. These two arguments are considered and rejected. It is further argued that accessing information about a prisoner-patient's criminal history violates nurses' duty to care. Care, understood through Sarah Ruddick's account as work and relationship, requires nurses to be open and unbiased in order to do their part in forming a caring relationship with patients. Knowledge of a prisoner-patient's criminal history inhibits the formation of this relationship and thus violates nurses' duty to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to improve understanding of obesity in prison by investigating prison nurses’ perceptions of weight gain and obesity. In-depth semistructured interviews were carried out with 17 nurses who worked in two male prisons in the United Kingdom. Nurses identified a variety of factors that they believed contributed to obesity and weight gain in the prison setting. These included factors caused by prisoner behavior, such as poor food choices and sedentary lifestyle. Factors influenced by the prison environment, such as stress of imprisonment, prison regime, and prison culture, were also seen as significant. These factors were seen as barriers to the role of nurses delivering care in prison. Nurses explained how they adapted their role to overcome these barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals who are incarcerated experience disparities in mental health, warranting study by nurse researchers. However, nurse researchers' unfamiliarity with the jail environment may pose a barrier to conducting research with this vulnerable population. The current article presents an account of the planning and implementation needed to study perceived health and gambling behavior in county jail inmates. The challenges and rewards of research that aim to better understand the mental health issues affecting this population are also identified. Developing relationships with jail personnel and understanding the incarcerated population and their surroundings are key to conducting research in this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary Little is known about how the prison environment may impact upon the mental health of adult prisoners., This paper highlights that prisoners perceive that the prison environment has a negative influence upon their mental health. However, a small number regarded prison as a place of respite, which afforded structure and an opportunity to access health services., There is a need for more research in this area specifically relating to the impact the prison climate may have upon those from black and minority ethic groups., Nurses must recognize the aspects of the prison environment that may impact upon the mental health of prisoners and demonstrate innovation and imagination in their application of interventions., Abstract Little is known regarding how the prison environment may affect the mental health of adult prisoners. Consequently, there is a need to investigate how this setting may exacerbate mental distress among this community. This literature review explores how the prison climate influences the mental health of adult prisoners. A thematic synthesis approach was used to elicit data relating to the aspects of the prison climate, which influence the mental health of prisoners. Four primary themes emerged from the synthesis: social, emotional, organizational and physical aspects. Prisoners perceive the prison climate to have a negative influence upon their mental health. However, perceived positively, prison was regarded as a place of respite, which afforded structure and an opportunity to access health services. There is limited research available specifically exploring the potential impact of the prison climate upon those from black and ethnic minorities groups. Nurses must recognize the aspects of the prison environment that may impact upon the mental health of prisoners and demonstrate innovation and imagination in their application of interventions. Additionally nurses need to take an active role in influencing and structuring the political agenda, which governs the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To document the logistical feasibility of a doula program for pregnant incarcerated women and to assess doulas' perceptions of their achievements. Design and Sample Six doulas provided written case notes ('birth stories') about their experiences with 18 pregnant women in one Midwestern state prison. Measures The birth stories were analyzed by two coders to identify major themes related to doulas' perceptions about providing support to incarcerated women. Analyses involved coder consensus about major themes and doula affirmation of findings. Results All doulas reported that they met key objectives for a successful relationship with each of their clients. Key themes were their ability to empower clients, establish a trusting relationship, normalize the delivery, and support women as they were separated from their newborns. Conclusions The intervention was logistically feasible, suggesting that doulas can adapt their practice for incarcerated women. Doulas may need specific training to prepare themselves for institutional restrictions that may conflict with the traditional roles of doula care. It may be important for doulas to understand the level of personal and professional resources they may have to expend to support incarcerated women if they are separated from their infants soon after delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we will consider how the regulation of populations is not just a feature of prisons, but of all institutions and organisations that control members though hierarchies, divisions and norms. While nurses and other allied health professionals are considered to be predominantly self-regulatory, practice is guided by a code of conduct and codes of ethics that act as rules that serve to uphold the safety of the patient, whether they are a sick person in a hospital bed or an inmate in a prison. The codes of conduct espouse a number of rules that to a certain extent govern the behaviour of individual and groups of practitioners through reciprocal rewards and punishments. Supervision is one method of monitoring the effectiveness of the codes of conduct and ethics while regulating both the minimum standard of individual practice and of training organisations. It is posited that one of the possible effects of clinical supervision is to make the person effectively self-regulatory as, an autonomous practitioner. We take the view that professional autonomy is a highly problematic concept requiring closer examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the health care provided to persons under confinement in the penitentiary system in the view of nursing. Methodology: An exploratory study, a qualitative approach to analyze the discussion of participants, from the guiding question: How do the nursing staff perceive the health care offered in the prison system? Data collection was performed through recorded interviews with the signing of terms of free and informed consent, conducted in April 2014, with 21 nursing staff of the penitentiary complex Maceió-AL, as approved by the Ethics Committee and research Platform UFAL via Brazil, and by CAAE No 25016814.6.0000.5013, receiving assent to its publication as protocol 560 840. Results: From the analysis of the interviews, three categories emerged: Many difficulties, some privileges; Stress, fear and involvement; Institutional force-health attention. Conclusion: This study contributes to the knowledge on the topic in question, and the debate on health care offered in the prison system in order to improve service delivery and care persons deprived of liberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study evaluated a framework for nursing managers which entailed supporting and challenging participants to critically analyse the effectiveness of their workplace behaviours in facilitated discussion groups using context-laden real-life scenarios. Background Leadership development in nursing managers has been shown to reduce burnout and promote workplace satisfaction. Method Ninety per cent of nursing managers ( n = 63) employed in the organisation participated in the study. Data relating to burnout, workplace satisfaction and leadership practices were collected prior to and after participation in the support and challenge framework. Qualitative feedback was sought through a survey administered at follow-up. Result Nursing Unit Managers were significantly less satisfied in their intrinsic domain of workplace satisfaction at follow-up. Qualitative feedback indicated that participants experienced benefits related to networking, personal development and role development. Conclusion The experience of critiquing and challenging leadership when shared with peers who practice in a similar context was qualitatively reported as beneficial and valuable, in spite of a decrease in workplace satisfaction. Implications for nursing management Nursing manager's leadership development is a continuous process. Supporting and challenging nursing managers is likely to generate uncertainty related to self and role. The sharing and testing of this uncertainty with peers is welcomed and warrants further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been no attempt to explicate elderly patients’ preferences during nurse-patient interaction in the context of a prison setting. A purposive sample of 347 was chosen from a national Philippine prison based on the following inclusion criteria: (a) 55 years old and above, (b) incarcerated, (c) no psychological impairment, and (d) can amply read and write. Via conjoint analysis (CA), 36 from 81 nurse–patient interaction cards were produced according to orthogonal plans, as specified by SPSS. The conjoint analysis model proved to be fit: PearsonR = .993, (p < .05) Kendall's tau = .944 (p < .05), Kendall's tau for holdouts = .799 (p < .05). The use of CA showed the top 3 attributes: language (21.26%), smile (18.49%), and eye contact (14.19%). Overall, the following levels are highly preferred by respondents: “vernacular” language (utility = 1.377,SE = .21.26), “with” smile (utility = 1.198,SE = .082), and “constant” eye-contact/gaze (utility = .919,SE = .082). Significant differences in nurse–patient interaction were noted in age brackets, current health condition, and years of incarceration, except in educational attainment. Overall, geriatric incarcerated individuals preferred nurses who verbally utilize close-ended, nonfrequent, and without follow-up questions, speak vernacular in a low and constant intonation, give encouragement, and praise. When touch is needed, the respondents preferred same gender nurses. Respondents find it more comfortable when nurses utilize ‘friendly’ space during the interaction, smile, and maintain constant eye contact. To achieve more consistent care, nursing actions must be in accordance with these preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between self-efficacy and job satisfaction is multifaceted. Nurses might have concerns about managing their workload, which can trigger the stress and agitation that often exacerbate the situation. In this study the job satisfaction and motivation of 69 nurses, who have experience of working with mentally disordered offenders in a demanding multicultural environment, are explored. Participants were surveyed for age, duration and area of service, salary position and ways of organising their workload, and asked to complete questionnaires from approved psychometric scales. Correlations between job satisfaction and self-efficacy were found to be statistically significant and clearly affect productivity and quality of work. Managers should consider the benefits of improved staff training, support and working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is blood-borne virus that can cause both acute and chronic infection. In Scotland, it is well known that the main transmission route of HCV is through drug use and a study into prevalence of HCV in Her Majesty’s Prisons (HMPs) in Scotland showed that 53% of intravenous drug users (IVDU) tested were antibody positive (Taylor et al, 2012). The aim of HCV treatment is to reduce the risk of progression to cirrhosis, lessen the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, reduce/clear infectivity and improve the quality of life (British Liver Trust, 2014). Involving non-medical prescribers in the treatment of hepatitis C in prisons has contributed to a more seamless and timely patient pathway, avoiding delays from the onset of symptoms to the issuing of an appropriate medication if indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study identifies the healthcare education needs of incarcerated women in a state corrections facility. Methods This was a naturalistic qualitative study. Focus groups included two groups of adult women incarcerated in a state corrections facility. One group consisted of women housed in maximum security, and one group consisted of women housed in medium security. Data were analyzed using a constant comparison approach. Findings Three guiding questions provided the foundation for the identified themes. Themes included six healthcare education topics important to incarcerated women and three related to health education strategies best suited for incarcerated women. Conclusions Trust, respect and empowerment are key concepts in educating incarcerated women about their personal health and health of their families. Clinical Relevance With over 200,000 women incarcerated in the United States today, creating policies and practices that focus on the healthcare education needs of women that are woman focused may enhance knowledge and skills and may ultimately lead to reduced recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incarcerated women are a highly vulnerable population, most of whom have had extremely adverse life experiences. Nurses who work in corrections have significant challenges as they attempt to care in a setting that is focused on punishment. This article focuses on the unique culture of incarceration as it applies to women, along with the common challenges nurses face when caring for these women. Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care and the Sunrise Enabler are discussed as useful tools to assist nurses in providing culture care within the confines of the prison, as well as a means of understanding these women as cultural beings apart from the prison setting. Despite the many security restrictions that exist within the correctional environment, “care” can be provided regardless of the setting. A model case has been developed to show the enormous impact that culture care can have on the lives of many women who face incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to examine whether providing a nurse-led specialist diabetes service within the prison setting can improve the management of diabetes by reducing HbA1c - thus reducing hospital admissions for hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis and, in turn, reducing UK National Health Service costs. Monthly nurse-led clinics were carried out to review prisoners' diabetes management and control. The study prospectively monitored the care of diabetic men serving a prison sentence in a large English prison during a 12-month period within a specialist nurse-led diabetes clinic, and compared the outcomes to the previous 12 months before the clinic was set up. The study subjects comprised 27 male prisoners - of whom 37% have type 1 diabetes and 63% have type 2 diabetes - all detained in one prison, HM Prison Risley, in the north west of England. Main outcome measures were: reduction in hospital and accident and emergency (A&E) admissions; reduction in the rate of failed attendance at hospital outpatient clinic appointments ('did not attend') and in the rate of cancelled consultant outpatient clinic appointments; and improvement in diabetes management and control. The results showed that hospital admission rates reduced, with only two admissions in 12 months. One was due to hypoglycaemia (overdose) and one due to infection. There were no admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis. Baseline HbA1c was 74mmol/mol (8.9%); range 39-108mmol/mol (5.7-12.0%). At one-year follow up, HbA1c had decreased to 58mmol/mol (7.5%); range 56-119mmol/mol (7.3-13.0%). The number of episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the preceding 12 months was greatly reduced from 17 to 1 (p<0.001). It was concluded that prisoners should be offered care that meets national standards. They should have access to medication and education to help manage their diabetes. Commissioning of services for prisoners with diabetes needs to be addressed if this has not already been done. A comprehensive approach to the care of people with diabetes can be an effective way in which to improve overall health and prevent acute/chronic complications. Providing a prison based nurse-led specialist diabetes service within a prison can reduce hospital admissions, reduce the number of hospital outpatient clinic appointments, improve patient outcomes and ultimately save the UK National Health Service a substantial amount of money. Eur Diabetes Nursing 2014; 11(2): 53-57 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation can be used to introduce students to critical nursing skills that reduce errors, enhance nurse–patient communication, and improve safety and security when caring for patients in the correctional setting. The interactive environment creates scenarios in a realistic fashion that include experiences that nursing students may encounter in a correctional facility setting, such as aggressive clients, gang-related activities, and noncompliant personalities. Orientation prior to entering the facilities is the key to safety, reducing student anxiety, and enhancing the student’s ability to learn. The simulation scenario designed for the correctional setting provides an environment for the teaching and learning of correctional nursing skills and multidisciplinary collaboration. Scenarios are embedded with communication, safety, delegation, and critical thinking education goals. Student evaluations are assessed and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers several tips for correctional nurses to meet the challenges related to working in prisons. These tips include providing appropriate care to the prisoners regardless of their offenses, taking the time to obtain a health history that is accurate, and being committed to the ethical care provision of all patients. The authors also discuss the lessons that they have learned while working as correctional nurses which they consider as a satisfying work experience.

Women were an essential and necessary part of the work force during the Second World War in Hitler's Germany. The vast majority of guards working in the 20,000 infamous concentration camps were men, but about 5,000 female guards and some female nurses and doctors were also recruited and committed unspeakable crimes, often matching or even surpassing those of the male SS guards. This article discusses the typical background of some of these women, sheds light on many of the gruesome crimes committed by them, the nurses, and doctors, and addresses what attracted them to this kind of work. In addition, the role of female inmates themselves is considered, prisoners who were favored by their guards and became overseers of other prisoners. They also became guilty of criminal activities. Finally, the fate of these guards after the war is considered when allied troops had liberated the prisoners in the camps and arrested some of the guards. Unfortunately, most escaped justice. Why? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to examine the tensions that exist between care and custody in correctional environments by presenting the (im)possibilities of psychiatric nursing practice within this context. The analysis will be guided by empirical data obtained from a qualitative research conducted in a correctional setting. Semistructured interviews with nurses were conducted and used as the primary source of data for analysis. This article will explore the contextual characteristics of psychiatric nursing practice in correctional settings, describe the alienating effects of this context on nursing practice, theorize nurses’ experience using Festinger’s theory on cognitive dissonance, and, finally, explore how some nurses engage in the reconstruction of their care to counter the effects of working in correctional settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on current health practices used in the transfer and treatment of pregnant incarcerated women in the U. S. It reflects the role of nurses in protecting the patients from the illegal practices in the criminal justice system. It also discusses the effects of physically restraining or shackling pregnant women which includes delay in diagnosis, increase in the risk of thromboembolic events and delay in emergency cesarean section.

This article discusses patient involvement in prison health care using an initiative developed and implemented at HM Prison Leeds. It explores the development of patient involvement in the NHS and increasing prisoner involvement in Her Majesty's Prison Service in more general terms. It also reports on an evaluation of the prisoner patient involvement strategy at HM Prison Leeds and proposes a model of prison patient involvement dependent on trust, empowerment and awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retention of nursing staff is more complex in a correctional facility. After a period of 3 years, only 20% of the staff remained employed at this study facility. Without retention of qualified correctional nurses, there are decreases in access to care, gaps in continuity of care, and less time for mentorship. Trained correctional nurses improve patient and staff safety, provide more education, and are more team-oriented. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and benefits to nursing staff satisfaction with their job and the likelihood that they will continue to work in correctional settings. Practice and patient care will be favorably impacted if correctional nurses are provided with services such as new hire orientation, clinical ladder programs to recruit and retain nursing staff, and teambuilding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports findings from a qualitative research project, using interviews, focus groups and participant observations, which sought to investigate 'good practice' in a nurse-led prison hospital wing for male prisoners. The study raised issues about tensions between 'caring' and 'control' of prisoners from the perspectives of professionals working or visiting the wing. This paper discusses collaborative working between professionals from different backgrounds, including nurses and healthcare (prison) officers who were based on the wing and others who visited such as probation, medical, Inreach team or Counselling Advice, Referral, Assessment and Through Care team staff (CARAT). The key finding was that there is a balance between therapy and security/risk. In order to maintain this, the two main groups based on the hospital wing - nurses and prison officers - moved between at times cooperating, coordinating and collaborating with each other to maintain this balance. Other themes were care and control, team working, individual and professional responsibilities and communication issues. Enhancing the role of nurses should be encouraged so that therapy remains paramount, and we conclude with some recommendations to encourage collaborative working in prison healthcare settings to ensure that therapy continues to be paramount while security and safety are maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People over 60 make up the fastest growing age group in prison, but their specialist health and social needs may be difficult to accommodate on general wings. The author discusses the development of an assessment she has devised for prisoners aged over 65 at Jurby Prison on the Isle of Man to gather information on physical, social and mental health needs. Agreed plans of care covering continence, mental health, mobility, nutrition, sensory impairment and communication difficulties are also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the aspects and considerations of correctional health (CH) nursing and provides a wider understanding of this field. CH nurses usually work with dental and mental health professionals and healthcare providers and participate in determining and providing a course of treatment for inmates during sick call. Most nurses report feeling more secure in correctional facilities and find it an ideal job for nurses committed to primary healthcare with a challenging population group. INSET: Understanding prisons and jails.

dickinson t. & hurley m. (2012) Exploring the antipathy of nursing staff who work within secure healthcare facilities across the United Kingdom to young people who self-harm. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(1), 147-158. Abstract Aims. This paper is a report of a study that compared relevant attitudinal dimensions of Registered Nurses and nursing aides working within a Young Offenders' Institute and two young people's forensic units in the United Kingdom towards young people in their care who self-harm. Background. Nurses caring for young people within secure environments may engage at some point with patients who harm themselves. These staff often experience strong negative emotional reactions which can lead to antipathy and alienation. Methods. Forty seven Registered Nurses and 22 nursing aides completed the Self-Harm Antipathy Scale, which consists of 30 attitudinal self-report items. The data were collected between June 2008 and December 2008, and analysed using spss version 17. Results. Results displayed that age per se, length of service with self-harming clients, and whether the participant was a Registered Nurse or nursing aide, and number of self-harming clients worked with did not influence the Self-Harm Antipathy Scale score or any of its component sub-scores. However, field of nursing the nurse was registered under, previous study of self-harm, year first registered and gender showed significant effects. Conclusions. Given that responses reflect a degree of both empathy and apathy it seems that there is a need to promote greater therapeutic alliances and communication; for example, the use of positive regard to help reduce the incidence of labelling and the negative effects this has upon relationships. There is a significant need for nursing staff working with young people who self-harm to have access to relevant educational programmes. A focus on harm minimization could be key areas for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The care of prisoners (offenders) in England lies with the Department of Health (DH) and the ability of the PCTs to commission services. In other countries of the UK this differs; in Scotland the Scottish Prison Service manages the responsibility of offender health, with responsibility resting with local health boards in Wales and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland. This article provides the community nurse with an overview of health protection in England's prisons and places of detention along with a review of communicable disease, immunization and infection prevention and control. General advice on legal obligations is provided with infection control principles and a discussion concerning incident and outbreak management. The role of the community nurse in the prison setting is no different to the role being undertaken in any other situation or environment where people require health care. Offenders are entitled to the same standards of healthcare as the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PERRON A and HOLMES D. Nursing Inquiry 2011; 18: 191-204 Constructing mentally ill inmates: nurses' discursive practices in corrections The concepts of discourse, subjectivity and power allow for innovative explorations in nursing research. Discourse take many different forms and may be maintained, transmitted, even imposed, in various ways. Nursing practice makes possible many discursive spaces where discourses intersect. Using a Foucauldian perspective, were explored the ways in which forensic psychiatric nurses construct the subjectivity of mentally ill inmates. Progress notes and individual interviews constitute discursive spaces within which nurses construct patients' subjectivities. Progress notes provide a written (and permanent) form of discourse, while interviews set the space for a more fluid and contextual form of discourse. We identified five types of subjectivities - the (in)visible patient, the patient as risk, the deviant patient, the disturbed patient and the disciplined patient. These subjectivities were rooted in various types of discourses circulating in the selected setting. Despite the multiple discursive dimensions of forensic psychiatric nursing, progress notes remain the main formal source of information regarding nursing care even though it is not representative of the care provided nor is it representative of nurses' complex discursive practices in corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prisons provide an ideal setting in which to carry out blood-borne virus testing among a high-risk population. This paper describes a nurse-led testing programme offered to all prisoners within the substance misuse unit at a local prison in South Wales over a 4-year period. Challenges to organizing such a clinic within the prison setting are discussed. Between April 2006 and April 2010, approximately 4500 prisoners were admitted through the substance misuse unit. Blood-borne virus testing took place among 176 prisoners, of which 24 were hepatitis C seropositive, 19 were confirmed as virus-positive, and eight were referred to specialist teams to consider treatment. Among prison populations blood-borne virus testing needs to be encouraged and improved. Offering testing provides opportunities for harm minimization, education and referrals for treatment. Such provisions are needed to benefit the health of individuals, their families and the wider public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prisoners over the age of 60 are the fastest growing age group in prison, but they face isolation and discrimination because their specialist health, social and resettlement needs are not being met. This article explores the problems faced by this group and highlights examples of good practice. INSETS: Case study: Lucy Hornshaw;Case study: Stephanie Parker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

drennan v., goodman c., norton c. & wells a. (2010) Incontinence in women prisoners: an exploration of the issues. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(9), 1953–1967. Aim. This paper is a report of a study exploring the extent and management of bladder and bowel problems in order to inform the provision and practice of prison nursing services and health care services in women’s prisons. Background. Nurses and general practitioners provide primary care services inside prisons in the United Kingdom. While high levels of mental health and addiction problems in women prisoners are recognized, there has been less focus on physical problems. Incontinence symptoms are perceived as shameful and stigmatizing, and frequently help is not sought from healthcare professionals. Guidance for assessing prisoner health does not refer to bladder and bowel symptoms. Methods. Women prisoners in a large, closed prison in the United Kingdom were surveyed in 2005 using an anonymous self-completed questionnaire. Women resident in the detoxification unit and the hospital unit, absent from their unit at the time of questionnaire distribution or deemed vulnerable by prison health staff were excluded. Results. Questionnaires were offered to 283 women and 246 agreed to take it. Of those taken, 148 (60%) were returned. Twenty-four per cent indicated that they disclosed information about bladder and bowel problems in the survey not previously disclosed to anyone else. Forty-three per cent reported urinary symptoms. Five per cent reported nocturnal enuresis. The majority of women with symptoms reported using sanitary pads and toilet paper for containment of leakage. Conclusion. Prison nurses and nurse practitioners involved in reception into prison assessments should ask direct but sensitive questions about women’s bladder and bowel symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the nursing care for prisoners with cancer in correctional institutions in the U.S. Insights from oncology nurses including Vienafe Jornadal-Recinto and Gail Kwarciany are presented. According to Jornadal-Recinto, inmates referred to as forensic patients have the same health care rights with regular patients. Kwarciany contributed that prisoners with cancer should be properly educated regarding cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and prognosis.

Since April 2006, commissioning responsibility for healthcare services in public prisons has been fully devolved to NHS primary care trusts (PCTs), with the expectation that offenders will have access to the same range and quality of health services available to the wider population. In order to support prison nurses in meeting this goal, a PCT and university established a partnership, which used an action research approach to develop, instigate and evaluate a bespoke educational programme for nurses working in two local prisons. This article outlines the processes involved in the design and implementation of the programme. It also reports on findings from pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and focus groups with course participants, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, which suggest that the innovation had a positive impact on the nurses' confidence, assertiveness, clinical expertise and approach to change. The article concludes that the action research project should continue, but its scope should now broaden to address educational support for healthcare assistants, collaborative learning between prison officers and prison nurses, and the implementation of clinical supervision and action learning sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

powell j., harris f., condon l. & kemple t. (2010) Nursing care of prisoners: staff views and experiences. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(6), 1257–1265. Title. Nursing care of prisoners: staff views and experiences. Aim. This paper is a report of a study of the views and experiences of nurses and other prison healthcare staff about their roles and the nursing care they provide to prisoners. Background. Nurses have become the key providers of healthcare in prison settings in England, replacing the previous prison service-run system. However, there is very little evidence about the health services they provide to meet the health needs of prisoners. Method. A ethnographic study was conducted. Participants were 80 healthcare staff working in 12 prisons of all security categories in England. Twelve individual interviews with general healthcare managers and 12 key informant focus group discussions with healthcare staff were undertaken in 2005 using a semi-structured interview schedule. Issues investigated included participants’ thoughts and experiences of nursing roles and delivery of primary healthcare. The group discussions and interviews were analysed to identify emerging themes. Findings. Participants gave accounts of day-to-day processes and the healthcare routine. They saw their work as identifying and meeting the health needs of prisoners and maintaining their health, and identified major influences that shaped their daily work, including new ways of working in primary care. They identified how policy and organizational changes were affecting their roles, and acknowledged the conflict between the custody regime and healthcare delivery. Conclusion. The move towards a NHS-led primary healthcare service within prisons, predominantly delivered by nurses, has made positive changes to healthcare. Healthcare managers have benefited from the involvement of the local NHS in improving the health of prisoners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This study is a report of a narrative review to explore the challenges facing prisoners and the corrections system in the presence of the death of a significant person to the prisoner. Background. Death of a loved one is an important challenge, amplified for incarcerated men. There are unique aspects of incarceration that prevent prisoners from having access to usual ritual expressions and support structures. Data sources. A search of the CINAHL, ProQuest Medical, PubMed, EBSCO and COCHRANE databases was conducted for papers published from 1998-2007. The search terms were bereavement and prison nursing. A hand search of material specific to grief and incarceration was also undertaken. Review methods. A narrative technique involving reading, writing, thinking, interpreting, arguing and justifying was used to synthesize the material and create a convincing and cohesive story. Results. Limited research is available specifically addressing the grief experience of incarcerated individuals or the impact of unresolved grief on recidivism. However, a number of potential challenges to the grieving process in the prison system are identified in the literature, such as the prison culture of toughness and limited options for funeral attendance. Conclusion. Whilst the literature is scant, it is clear that issues of masculinity and culture have a strong impact on the ability of incarcerated men to resolve grief issues. More research is required to understand the impact of this on issues, such as recidivism. In the meantime, prison nurses have an important role to play in supporting prisoners who have lost a loved one during their incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Title. Users’ views of prison health services: a qualitative study. Aim. This paper is a report of a study of the views of prisoners about health services provided in prisons. Background. Prison provides an opportunity for a ‘hard to reach’ group to access health services, primarily those provided by nurses. Prisoners typically have high health and social needs, but the views and experiences of prisoners about health services in prison have not been widely researched. Method. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 111 prisoners in purposively selected 12 prisons in England in 2005. Interviews covered both prisoners’ views of health services and their own ways of caring for their health in prison. Interviews were analysed to develop a conceptual framework and identify dominant themes. Findings. Prisoners considered health services part of a personal prison journey, which began at imprisonment and ended on release. For those who did not access health services outside prison, imprisonment improved access to both mental and physical health services. Prisoners identified accessing services, including those provided by nurses, confidentiality, being seen as a ‘legitimate’ patient and living with a chronic condition as problems within the prison healthcare system. At all points along the prison healthcare journey, the prison regime could conflict with optimal health care. Conclusion. Lack of autonomy is a major obstacle to ensuring that prisoners’ health needs are fully met. Their views should be considered when planning, organizing and delivering prison health services. Further research is needed to examine how nurses can ensure a smooth journey through health care for prisoners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]