The correctional culture and environment can create unique challenges and ethical dilemmas for nurses, including witnessing patient harm. Nurses may struggle with "doing the right thing" or being silent as they wade through murky waters. This has a direct impact on patient safety and can lead to high rates of turnover, absenteeism, fear of retaliation, apathy, and a shift away from the art and science of nursing. This presentation will explore the experiences of correctional nurses related to witnessing patient harm and provide guidance for reporting situations of patient harm and coping with moral and ethical conflicts that arise.

Educational Objectives

• Discuss correctional nurses' role and responsibility to prevent patient harm
• Describe ethical and moral challenges that occur as a result of witnessing patient harm
• Identify problem-solving strategies for situations in which nurses may witness patient harm

Level: Intermediate