Which statement about the practice of correctional nursing is accurate?
A) Because the majority of inmates are younger than 40 years of age, most have lower rates of chronic illnesses than the general population.
B) Correctional nurses work primarily with medically ill persons rather than persons with psychiatric or substance abuse disorders.
C) More persons diagnosed with mental illness receive treatment services in prisons than in inpatient psychiatric facilities.
D) Correctional nurses commonly provide holistic and comprehensive care for the incarcerated population.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When compared to the rates in the general population (11% of whom have a mental health problem, with approximately 55,000 individuals hospitalized at an inpatient psychiatric hospital on any given day), correctional facilities carry a disproportionate share of the burden for the provision of mental health services. Rates of chronic illness are higher among inmates than in the general population due to factors such as higher rates of poverty, lower educational status, higher rates of trauma, institutional living when incarcerated, reduced access to health care, poor health habits, and higher rates of high-risk behaviors such as IV drug abuse. Correctional settings provide adequate care of inmates, but it is rarely holistic or comprehensive.

Which Statement About the Practice of Correctional Nursing Is Accurate