Background: In 2019, an estimated 6.3 million persons were under the supervision of the United States adult correctional systems and one in 40 adult persons were under correctional supervision. At year-end of 2019, nearly seven in ten persons under correctional supervision were supervised in the community. A nurse's attitudes and beliefs about incarcerated persons may influence their behavior.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine nursing student's attitudes towards incarcerated persons and their perceptions of a clinical experience at a correctional facility.
Methods: Data from 137 nursing students were collected through a cross-sectional, electronic survey. The Attitude Towards Prisoners Scale (Melvin et al., 1985) was used. A post hoc analysis of perceptions of their clinical experience at a correctional facility was explored.
Results: The mean scores of 93 and 94 (potential range of scores 0 to 144) suggest positive attitudes towards incarcerated persons exist, yet few nursing students report an interest in correctional nursing as a career. Although few (n = 5) students had a correctional nursing clinical experience, most perceived it as an effective clinical learning setting.
Conclusion: With high rates of incarceration, the researchers recommend that baccalaureate nursing programs include educational teaching strategies that focus on incarceration, incarceration stigma, and explore clinical learning experiences.
Keywords: Attitudes; Correctional nursing; Incarceration; Nursing students.
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