Behind White Bars: Nurses’ Untold Experiences of Care Dimensions for Prisoners With Cardiac Diseases

AIM: To examine occupational challenges faced by nurses providing cardiac care to incarcerated individuals with cardiovascular disease in a high-security environment. METHODS: This study used Graneheim and Lundman's conventional content analysis. We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with nine purposively selected nurses from cardiology departments at Razi Hospital, Birjand, Iran (November 2023-May 2024). MAXQDA software was used for analysis, and Guba and Lincoln's criteria ensured the credibility and trustworthiness of the data. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: (1) conflict between custody and care, (2) relational challenges and mutual distrust, (3) prisoner-specific care issues, and (4) psychological pressures and increased workload for nurses. DISCUSSION: Nurses providing specialized care to prisoners with cardiovascular disease face numerous challenges, necessitating multilevel interventions such as enhanced training, improved organizational protocols, and policy collaboration between health care and correctional facilities to address the core custody-versus-care tension and develop effective strategies for equitable care.