Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)
VISIT TO A CORRECTIONAL CENTRE
This is a special visit by the RCPN to a correctional facility to educate and assess children and persons who have been convicted of criminal or civil offences. The nurse assists in the rehabilitation of the individuals in the facility back to society.
Purpose
- Facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration to the society
- Promote the WHO's Quality Rights of persons living with mental illness
- Assess and identify inmates who may need treatment for mental illness and other forms of psychological management
Indications
- Special visits to a correctional facility to educate and assess children and persons convicted of criminal or civil offences.
- Facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals back into society.
- Identifying inmates who may need treatment for mental illness and other forms of psychological management.
Equipment
- A Well-Equipped home visit bag
- Community Map and or GhanaPost Global Positions System (GPS)
- Manual/electronic area register/ records of the client
- Means of Transportation
Preparation
- Read the community map or GPS and identify the location of the centre.
- Carry a well-equipped home visit bag and arrange transportation.
Procedure steps
- Read map of the community or use GhanaPost Global Positions System (GPS) address to identify the location of the centre
- Greet, enter the facility and follow all protocols
- Identify officer in-charge of the centre
- Establish rapport and introduce self to officer in-charge
- Explain purpose of your visit to the officer in-charge
- Enquire from the prison health personnel the presence of inmates with mental illness
- Enquire about specific offence(s) that brought inmates into the centre
- Find out other treatment alternatives available for inmates whiles in the centre
- Ask about the nutritional status of inmates and educate on the need for proper feeding whiles on treatment
- Enquire about recreational activities available for inmates
- Collaborate with prison health personnel and thoroughly assess inmates and identify their physiological health needs
- Draw a care plan for their health needs
- Assist in providing any other care if required
- Encourage the officer in-charge to always refer persons whose conditions need further treatment or regular medical review to mental health units or health facility
- Inform officer in-charge, health personnel and inmates about your next visit
- Leave your contact with officer in- charge, health personnel and encourage them to call when necessary
- Document the care and findings in report book
- Express appreciation and depart
Precautions
- Greet, enter the facility and follow all protocols.
- Identify the officer in-charge and explain the purpose of the visit.
- Maintain confidentiality while collaborating with prison health personnel.
- Encourage referral of persons whose conditions need further treatment or regular medical review.
Aftercare
- Inform the officer in-charge, health personnel and inmates about the next visit.
- Leave contact details with the officer in-charge and health personnel for emergencies.
Nursing considerations
- Assess inmates thoroughly with prison health personnel and identify their physiological health needs.
- Draw a care plan for the health needs identified.
- Promote the rehabilitation and reintegration of the individuals back into society.
Patient education
- Educate on the WHO Quality Rights of persons living with mental illness.
- Educate inmates on proper feeding while on treatment and the recreational activities available.
- Encourage referral of persons whose conditions need further treatment or regular medical review to mental health units.
Documentation
- Document the care and findings in the report book.
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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