In February of 2015, the Department of Justice Bureau of Statistics published the latest Special Report of Medical Problems of State and Federal Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2011-2012. This report continues to be the most current in 2020.  In it, the prevalence of heart-related problems in state and federal prisoners was documented as 9.8%, whereas the prevalence of heart-related problems in the general population (for the same demographic group) was 2.9%.  In jail inmates, the prevalence of heart-related problems was documented as 10.4% while the prevalence in the general population was only 1.9%.  For all, heart-related problems were defined as any of the following:  angina; arrhythmia; arteriosclerosis; heart attack; coronary, congenital, or rheumatic heart disease; heart valve damage; tachycardia; or other type of heart problem.  In addition, hypertension occurred in 26.3% of the jail population (13.9% in the general population) and 30.2% of the state and federal prisoners (18.1% in the general population).

These numbers will only continue to grow, and it is vitally important that correctional nurses have a basic knowledge of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

This class will cover the pathophysiology of hypertension; typical medications prescribed and their side effects; nursing interventions for the patient with hypertension. A case study will be presented.  A complete patient education curriculum can be found at The Correctional Nurse Educator class entitled Chronic Care Patient Education: Hypertension in Corrections.