NCJ Number
171861
Journal
Journal of Correctional Health Care Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1997) Pages: 37-59
Date Published
1997
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study measures the attitudes of practicing correctional health care nurses toward their incarcerated patients and identifies variables that might influence such attitudes.
Abstract
Inmates often come from stigmatized social and cultural groups whose characteristics and behaviors may evoke negative responses from their caregivers. Yet nurses have a professional responsibility to provide care "not limited by personal attitudes or beliefs." Attitudes Toward Prisoners Scale questionnaires were collected from 146 nurses practicing at 19 correctional facilities in five States. Demographic data were also collected to see if age, education, gender, or length of time working in corrections influenced nurses' attitudes. The respondents' age and whether they practiced in a jail or a prison setting significantly influenced their attitudes. Overall attitude scores for correctional nurses were lower (more negative) than the scores of almost all other previously measured groups (e.g., correctional officers, police officers, community members). Notes, tables, references