Reviews

The critical lack of correctional and forensic psychiatric nurse specialists: Implications, preparations, and partnerships

  • Monica M. Nebel
  • Veronica Decker *
  • College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
* Correspondence:
Abstract:

Background: There is a significant lack of awareness of the various nursing specialties beyond mainstream hospital settings. This deficit has serious implications for the shortage of psychiatric nurse specialists in correctional and forensic settings. The lack of nurses with the specialized skills to care for patients with mental health needs, especially those in the correctional system, reveals a persistent disparity in caring an already vulnerable population.
Method: This study used an integrative review methodology, drawing on peer-reviewed literature published from 2018 to the present, sourced from PubMed, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL Ultimate. 
Results: The limited literature available on these nursing specialties underscores a gap in nursing education that may be due, in part, to long-persistent but overlooked stigma associated with safety and/or challenges of working with institutionalized populations, many with psychiatric health disorders.
Conclusions: Most nursing schools offer little, if any, education in these specialties, resulting in students’ limited awareness of their existence and a critical shortage of nurses in these settings. More academic training, models, and clinical partnerships are needed to reduce stigma and promote careers in these overlooked nursing specialties. 

  • Keywords:
  • Correctional; Forensic nurse; Mental health; Psychiatric nurse; Stigma; Workforce shortage
  • Received:
  • December 22, 2025
  • Accepted:
  • January 18, 2026
  • Published:
  • February 24, 2026
DOI: 10.63564/jnep.v16n2p33
Download:
  • How to cite this article: Monica M. Nebel, Veronica Decker. The critical lack of correctional and forensic psychiatric nurse specialists: Implications, preparations, and partnerships. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. 2026;16(2):33-39.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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