Affiliation:
1. Author Affiliations:Faculty of Nursing and
2. School of Public Health, University of Alberta
3. College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan.
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Individuals experiencing pain while incarcerated depend on nurses, security structures, processes, and regulations for relief.
Purpose
The intent of this research was to understand men's experience of pain during incarceration to inform correctional nursing practice.
Method
Interpretive description, co-positioned with relational ethics, guided this study. Twelve incarcerated men participated in a single 1-hour interview that was audio-recorded and transcribed. The resultant text was analyzed for themes.
Findings
The two main themes were dependence on staff and institutional processes and dependence on oneself and others who were incarcerated. Participants reported a substantial loss in their ability to access pain-relieving medications, products, and services. Unresponsive or delayed pain-relieving interventions from nurses contributed to their sense of indignity, disrespect, and injustice. The participants employed whatever was available, mainly exercise equipment and social support, to manage their pain.
Discussion
Nurses must engage with incarcerated patients meaningfully to understand and respond to contextual factors that influence their pain experiences. Participants identified loss of autonomy and dependence on nurses as barriers to their pain relief.
Conclusion
Nurse engagement and responsiveness are crucial to altering incarcerated men's perceptions of injustice or helplessness while improving their pain experiences. Nurses must also foster autonomous pain-management approaches that men can use without limitations within correctional settings.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Law,Nursing (miscellaneous),Psychiatry and Mental health,General Medicine,Pshychiatric Mental Health,Pathology and Forensic Medicine,Issues, ethics and legal aspects