Is anyone a prison nurse and can give any insights

[FuggoUggo]

Hi.

i am currently a band 6 community staff nurse. I have been in this role for just over a year and want out. I love my job and getting to know patients and their families, the autonomy that comes with the job etc but the team I work for is becoming increasingly toxic, the case load is increasing to and unsustainable amount (like any area of the NHS) and managing a team is not for me.

I do not want to go and work on a ward in any capacity. Our local hospital is at total crisis and I fancy a huge change. I have seen a job advertised in a prison, it is Monday to Friday, decent hours and more money than I am currently on now. The advert makes the job sound interesting and exciting but I’m aware the reality may be totally different. Does anyone work in a prison as a nurse and has any input?

thanks

Hi yes, I know a bit about it - I'll reply properly later when home.

I think the reality would be very, very different!

I recently read a book called The Prison Doctor - fascinating - apply then decide afterwards maybe?

I think there’s an AMA going on just now that covers this very topic.

Not me but someone close. They find it interesting and the patients being prisoners quickly becomes second nature. You have to be sure you can treat anyone though - rapist, paedophile etc all get treated with respect and dignity. You’re not supposed to know what they’re in for but it gets around.

There is a higher than normal incidence of suicide attempts, mental health issues and there are a lot of people who need patching up after fights.

Some bits are quite funny…getting things stuck in their “prison purse” for example 😂

Not me but I met an open prison nurse once who loved her job. Built up good relationships with her patients so lots of continuity and job satisfaction.

It's a bit like marmite as a job. There is a lot of repetition and lots of people with variations on the same problem. As a community nurse you'll be used to wound care, imms and vaccs, some LTC management. Prison is all that with minor illness and injury triage and emergency response added on. Depending on the category of prison (sounds like D or C?) there can be more or less care of the elderly, palliative care, unwell patients. Getting people out to hospital for urgent things can be a challenge, as you've got to work within the regime.