Caring for Prisoners-Patients: A Quandary for Registered Nurses

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to unveil the complexity of registered nurse (RN) care for prisoner-patients in an acute care perioperative setting.DesignThe study design was based on phenomenology and the philosophy of Hans George Gadamer.MethodThis study used researcher journaling and two audio-taped in-depth interviews with each of the 12 nurse participants.FindingsFive key fused horizons or joint understandings emerged that resonated for all participants. They were the following:
•  RNs give prisoner-patients perfunctory care;
•  Prisoner-patient care is reactive;
•  Caring for prisoner-patients is emotionally draining;
•  Knowing or imagining a prisoner-patient's crime creates practice dilemmas; and
•  Expressions of care straddle ideal and real caring perspectives.ConclusionIn the caring literature, caring is altruistically presented as an ideal that (ought to) guide RN interactions with patients. However, the study findings call into question the assumptions that are made about what it means to care and how RNs enact their caring role, particularly in vexatious situations.