The experiences of correctional health care staff are understudied. Yet those who choose this profession are among the most dedicated and compassionate individuals in today’s workforce. Their voices deserve to be heard, recognized, and acted upon. Staffing shortages among health care workers and custody staff also negatively affect the well-being of both patients and staff. Change is sorely needed, but first we need to better understand the correctional health care workforce. To accomplish this goal, the NCCHC Foundation funded a mixed-methods research project that began in 2025.
Over the past year, we interviewed more than 30 current and former correctional health care professionals to better understand how to improve recruitment and retention. The interviews were rich and in-depth, and participants represented a range of health care disciplines, including nursing, medicine, mental health, and dentistry, as well as geographic regions across the United States. For the second phase of the research, we developed and recently launched a survey.
The survey explores factors related to recruitment, including how respondents entered the field of correctional health care, what motivated them to accept the role, any concerns they had before accepting the position, and how their expectations compared with the reality after they began working. It is also designed to better understand why correctional health care professionals stay in or leave the field. The survey includes questions about retention factors such as working conditions, workload, job demands, organizational culture, and other aspects of the work environment.
This research presents a unique opportunity to contribute individual experiences and perspectives to the field. The findings will be analyzed to develop actionable recommendations for correctional and correctional health care leaders. In addition, the Foundation will conduct a drawing of participants for a $50 gift card. Click here to take the survey.
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Sacred Heart University Institutional Review Board (IRB), Protocol No. FY2026-43.
