Introduction 

Persons reentering the community after incarceration often confront a range of challenges that influence their ability to engage in self-care. This study sought to gain insight and understanding of how persons recently released from an incarceration experience perceive their preparedness for reentry and how this affects their ability to engage in self-care management.

Method 

Using focus group methodology, four male, two female, and one mixed focus groups (N = 31) were held at a syringe access program, a medication-assisted recovery clinic, and a postincarceration support service. The Rediscovery of Self-Care (RSC) model served as the framework. The a priori RSC constructs guided data analysis.

Findings 

Participants defined self-care as basic hygiene, eating well, engaging with family, and managing mental health and their substance use issues. Depending on the interview location, self-care also included using clean injection materials, taking prescribed medications, or adhering to treatment programs. Reported challenges to self-care included transportation, substance addiction, job and housing instability, and mental illness. Our results indicate that there is value in applying the RSC model to guide nursing interventions in promoting self-care for persons with an incarceration experience.

Conclusion 

There is a need for reskilling, especially pertaining to sober environments, mental health services, syringe access programs, and continuity of care. Self-care ability, self-efficacy, motivation, sense of internal control, and social support were identified as critical to the successful transition to full reentry after incarceration.