Title : Correctional health care nursing is community health nursing
Abstract:
Correctional Nursing is a specialty with origins in public health. The first national health care standards were drafted specifically for correctional institutions and published by The American Public Health Association (APHA) in 1976. In 1977, the AMA published standards specifically for jails, and in 1979 the AMA also published the first health care standards for prisons. In 1975 the ANA recognized correctional nursing and proceeded to publish the scope for practice for nurses in 1985. The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) in 1983 established standards for quality correctional health care. Acting on the mission to provide quality correctional health care the NCCHC as a voluntary accrediting body provided the framework for quality care. The NCCHC assisted facilities to comply with the standards through educational resources, publications, conferences, and certifications. National standards of care from all specialties were integrated into care including public health to ensure quality and safety for all within the correctional setting. Research on preventative care is delivered in the correctional setting as are standards for those encountering sick correctional inmates, staff, visitors, etc. ensures that upon discharge from the facility infected patients are not released into the community to spread disease.
Audience Take Away:
- This presentation provides the audience with an overview of the important relationship that correctional nursing has with the general public’s health. As a contained community, it is essential that research focuses on the practice of maintaining the health for the inmates housed in a correctional facility.
