This dissertation aims to discover potential explanations for nursing's lack of engagement with prison abolition by examining nurses' discussions of prison abolition and identifying the discourses that shape these discussions. The findings from the study, which were derived by applying Critical Discourse Analysis, showed that many nurses struggled with nursing’s constructed ideal identity, their experiences with violence and safety, and how nursing can provide a truly holistic approach to care. These findings suggest that nurses may benefit from nuanced engagement with the theory and practice of prison abolition.
