To think working in a prison might be fun?

[SmashAgainstTheMachine]

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.

Perhaps fun was the wrong word. Interesting and rewarding is maybe more apt.

My mum definitely found it rewarding at times but she could not cope with the sex offenders. And she was threatened a few times by prisoners who had connections outside.

You have to have a really thick skin and not give anything away about yourself.

I've been in 3 as a student nurse/HCA. Loved them and really wanted to do prison nursing. Ended up elsewhere, but learned a lot whilst there. Good Luck.

P.S If they ask you about a scenario where a prisoner asks you to post a birthday/xmas card for his child the answer is No, you won't. Gives the prisoner a hold as it were over you so can start blackmailing you for ore stuff and it escalates from there.

My friend left teaching in a school to teach in a prison. She loved it and found it much easier discipline wise than a secondary school. Education is seen as a privilege in prison and the men were polite and respectful. I suppose the alternative was going back to being locked up for 23hrs a day, a deterrent the local Academy trust hasn't dared to bring in yet! The levels of illiteracy were truly shocking but she did feel like she was making a real difference.

I do work in the criminal justice system including prisons. It is a challenging environment but can be very rewarding. Fun is not a word i would use.

I havent worked in a prison full time , but i have been involved in an Adult social care project for older prisoners .. Cat B Male prison - mainly lifers ..

It can be very rewarding and reminded me a bit like working in a school in lots of ways . Obviously there are lots of extra safety procedures..

You do have to be strong and confident (if you are a nurse I am sure you are) ... if is a male prison do be prepared to be called 'Miss' all the time

Working with L/T prisoners.. I found many of them were very charming (and that may be part of why they are there IFYSWIM so you do need to be mindful of this )

I did agency shifts in a YOI. Not the kind of work environment I would choose. I basically dished out drugs and had to check to make sure the drugs weren't concealed as they were used as currency. I couldn't go anywhere, even to leave the office unless I was with a guard as I didn't have keys. Some of the guards were psychos. Definitely not fun.

I would want to do it but my sister is a nurse in prison and loves it.

I wouldn't!!

What made you use the word 'fun' OP?

It sounds so immature.

My DD1s PDs mother is a nurse in a prison. She enjoys her job but I'm thinking she wouldn't use the word fun. Or super fun.

I taught in a secure training centre (prison for boys aged 12-18) - it could be really rewarding but also stressful and upsetting. You need a good sense of humour, to be emotionally tough and able to read situations well.

I worked on a forensic unit for mental health 80% service users being either violent or sex offences.
It was in no way fun. Very stressful and hard to leave work in work iyswim.
It was very very hard, scary, long hours and mentally draining.
Having young children made it so much more difficult in terms of comprehension and having meaningful professional relationships with my service users.
I did two years but the staff turnover was massive. Most permanent staff on this unit are regularly swapped as it can all be too much after a while

I think it would be interesting. I thought it was quite a popular placement choice at university - can't remember clearly as that was ages ago.

Laiste, what made you pull up the OP on her choice of words, especially when she'd corrected herself - it sounds so bitchy.

Given that the horrendous conditions of prisons for both staff and prisoners has been a big focus of the news for some weeks, I'm not sure fun would be the word I'd use.

I don't have any experience of working in a prison and I'm sure it would be rewarding in some ways but choosing to join at this particular moment does seem a bit ill judged.

No thanks. You're the one the prisoners take their frustrations out on when the doctor decides to reduce/stop prescribing certain medications. Not fun.

Prison work is so highly pressured, and the system is under massive strain. Ask lots of questions, find out exactly what is expected of you.

I work with prisoners. It's interesting, but can be dangerous and stressful. Also, as already pointed out, sex offenders like to tell their stories to make you uncomfortable. You have to be able to switch off and leave work at work.

As a guard absolutely no way, full of violence, spitting, having urine and feces thrown over you etc, risk of being stabbed, and for crap pay.
Not sure a nurse would be much better tbh.

I worked as a teacher in the prison service for quite a few years. It was definitely interesting, challenging, at yes, 'fun' at times as any job can be.
The prison system is massively underfunded and it is having a knock on effect on the men. They are hugely understaffed. The wings are literally full of drugs. Education staff are 'franchised' for want of a better word and we had the ability to remove people who were abusive, violent, etc. Nursing staff cannot do this, they have to keep working with people. I would expect to see as a nurse- self harm, drug abusers, people who have been assaulted and beaten up, on a daily basis. Also expect to see people attending for pain relief, medication for ongoing conditions, and new conditions and not be able to help them as there is very little funding. Expect abuse and foul language directed your way every day and not be able to do anything about it. Expect complaints put In about you. Expect to have to put in lots of reports to help safeguard the men you see. It's an incredibly challenging role in a challenging environment, but that will help you grow as a professional if you embrace it's challenges.

I wanted to apply for an HCA post in a man's prison.

DH was not comfortable with it at all. I didn't go for it in the end due to the hours but I might be tempted to try it at some point again.

I've recently started a new job which involves visiting prisons and I wouldn't describe it as a 'fun' experience - and I only have to visit for a few hours at a time. Interesting, rewarding and challenging definitely - but intimidating and potentially dangerous also and I definitely wouldn't say it's my idea of fun. But do what you think is best, make an informed decision after your visit, make sure you ask plenty of questions. Like my job, somebody has to do it, I guess!

My aunt is a prison warder in a female prison. I'd work in a female prison but not a male one, unless it was a low risk open prison.

The fact that you so flippantly think it'll be "fun" means you're probably not suited to that environment.

I was interviewed for a post as prison guard one time, many many moons ago - (didn't get the job), but I think I would have found it challenging and rewarding. I have considered prison chaplain work in the past - again -hard work but meaningful.

I think it would be tough - harrowing, even -but tremendously rewarding for the right person, and that you would need to be astute, have a very dark sense of humour and a very thick skin - and not be easily intimidated.

Good luck in your career, whatever you decide.

I had a temporary job in a high security prison in their tech support area, worst job I've ever endured. Everyone was miserable and bitchy, it was a tough environment and it definitely didn't bring out the best in people.