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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think working in a prison might be fun?

87 replies

SmashAgainstTheMachine · 06/12/2016 19:34

Have a job interview next week for prison nurse. Everyone I have spoken to that has done this job has really enjoyed it and I think I will too. Family however think I'm mad and shouldn't go ahead with it.

It's a catagory B prison for men.

OP posts:
Original poster
SmashAgainstTheMachine · 06/12/2016 19:34

Sorry, just wondered if anyone had worked in a prison and if so, was it ok or awful?

OP posts:
PolterGoose · 06/12/2016 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WellErrr · 06/12/2016 19:36

I can't imagine 'fun' would be the word for it.

Vixxfacee · 06/12/2016 19:37

Absolutely not. What about a school nurse?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 06/12/2016 19:37

Fun?? That's an interesting idea.

Crispbutty · 06/12/2016 19:37

A family friend worked as a prison officer for years. He said it is now a horrible horrible job and can't wait to retire.

PurpleMinionMummy · 06/12/2016 19:38

Interesting maybe. Fun....yabu.

PeteSwotatoes · 06/12/2016 19:38

My mum worked in one. She was sexually assaulted by a prison guard and wrongfully dismissed. I took her a long time to get justice for it.

And she said working on the sex offenders wing was traumatic for her. They liked to discuss their crimes to try to make her feel uncomfortable.

It was a cat c.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 06/12/2016 19:38

Having a friend that works in the prison system, fun isn't a word I would use to describe it.

Lovelybangers · 06/12/2016 19:39

I don't know about fun - but could be worthwhile?

NeedsAsockamnesty · 06/12/2016 19:39

Many moons ago I did a placement in a prison, I enjoyed it and very much valued the experance

GreenPetal94 · 06/12/2016 19:39

I interviewed for a job in a prison, didn't get it. I think it would be different every day, but often very challenging.

FannyWisdom · 06/12/2016 19:40

Fuck that.

UK prisons are on a knife edge and dangerous.

AwfulSomething · 06/12/2016 19:40

As a nurse you may have a better time than the officers. And you should be a robust soul well used to the extremes of human behaviour if you have been a nurse for a while. As long as you have a sense of humour, guts and an off switch you will find it fun and rewarding.

PeteSwotatoes · 06/12/2016 19:40

Oh yeah, and the suicides. There were two suicides I think in the couple of years she worked there. But I hear that's getting worse.

Foldedtshirt · 06/12/2016 19:41

Men's prisons, no. But go along for the interview and to find out more.

Angelitron · 06/12/2016 19:41

The most dangerous job in the uk, is it not?

No way on earth I would work in a prison.

Floggingmolly · 06/12/2016 19:41

How exactly are you envisioning the "fun" parts??

VioletWillow · 06/12/2016 19:42

I worked in prisons for a number of years, not as a nurse though. I wouldn't call it fun. Challenging, hairy, stressful, yes. Worthwhile, definitely (sometimes). It takes a certain personality to survive it, and I would say having a very dark sense of humour helps. That being said, I left 8 years ago and I am sure the recruitment freezes and lack of funding have taken a major toll since then.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 06/12/2016 19:42

A good friend of mine worked in a couple of prisons doing admin and HR stuff. Even though she didn't have much contact with the inmates it was awful for her due to the stress she was put under and when she quit she needed counselling and had serious anxiety for a long time as a direct result of the job.

AndShesGone · 06/12/2016 19:42

Dh taught it one. He loved it. Adults who really want to learn are the best students.

Original poster
SmashAgainstTheMachine · 06/12/2016 19:42

There have been 2 suicides in this prison in the past 12 months. It also has a sex offenders wing.

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 06/12/2016 19:42

There was a program on a couple of weeks ago where they'd done undercover filming in some prisons. I watched it in tears. It was awful. Truly awful.

YABU Never in a month of Sunday's would it be fun

BitchQueen90 · 06/12/2016 19:43

It wouldn't be fun. My DM worked in one and I often work with ex offenders.

You have to be able to completely detach from whatever crimes they have committed and that is often difficult for some people. You're at a risk, especially at the moment. Prisons are at breaking point with lack of funding, bad conditions, etc.

I find working with people who need help very rewarding but I wouldn't say "fun."

Sidge · 06/12/2016 19:44

My friend worked as a prison nurse. She lasted 4 months before jacking it in on the verge of a breakdown. She said it was horrendous and professionally dangerous.

And she'd been an army nurse for 16 years so it wasn't like she wasn't used to horrible shit.

I'm a nurse (adult not RMN) and I have to be honest it's the last place I'd want to work.