Forensic nurses are faced with unique challenges in their attempt to deliver nursing care in a custodial environment. * The impact of such challenges on the cultural dynamic of forensic nursing and consequently on healthcare delivery is largely unknown. * The aim of this ethnographic study was to explore the nursing culture within an Australian prison hospital and the migration of the culture over a 12-month period. * At the end of the study, the nursing culture was found to be one of hope, although with no clearly articulated vision of nurse-hood or patient-hood and model within which to practice nursing. * The ability to articulate practice is central to the development of mental health nursing in any context. Abstract Forensic nurses are faced with unique challenges in their attempt to deliver nursing care in a custodial environment. The impact of such challenges on the cultural dynamic of forensic nursing and consequently on healthcare delivery is largely unknown. The aim of this ethnographic study was to explore the nursing culture within an Australian prison hospital and the migration of the culture over a 12-month period. At the end of the study the nursing culture was found to be one of hope, although with no clearly articulated vision of nurse-hood or patient-hood and model within which to practice nursing.