title: Prison Nursing: Formation of a Stable Professional Identity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze how working within prison environments can influence the self-identity and professional identity of nurses.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The prison environment can be a difficult environment for nurses to deliver care within, with nurses having to carry out activities that seem to go against their professional role, while at the same time providing care to prisoners who have greater health needs than the general population. There is a lack of theoretical consideration of how prison nurses carry out their role in the face of such challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a review of literature published over the last 11 years exploring nurses' beliefs, thoughts, and feelings toward delivering care within prison environment.
  With time, nurses working within prison environments develop specific skills to be able to deliver appropriate care to their patients. These skills include adapting to both the prison environment and the prison culture. Ultimately, adaptations lead to a change in identity allowing nurses to work effectively within prison.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providers of prison healthcare should ensure that induction (orientation) processes for new nurses are designed to address specific challenges that nurses face including the potential for cognitive dissonance. They should ensure that nurses receive training to develop and acquire the skills highlighted in this review. Ensuring that this training is in place may increase nurse retention.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Department of Primary Care & Public Health Sciences, King's College London.
authors.forename: Khurshid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choudhry
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Alexandru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dregan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011330:Prisons; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D013041:Specialties, Nursing