Custody Nurse

[despondentatwork]

Anyone have any information or advice on this? No clue what it entails, really, but have seen an advertisement & may apply. I'm interested in trying something new!

It's actually a 'Custody Nurse Practitioner'...

What area do you work in now? It's a tough area but can be rewarding. I know a few people who do it.

Are you a qualified nurse already?

Yes, qualified 22 years. Primary care for the last 16 years. Pandemic changed everything at home, and I've Banked around the family for the past year. Feel liberated & ready to try new things: a year ago I probably wouldn't have considered this.

My friend was a custody nurse for many years. She had come from the prison service so was used to the environment.
She really enjoyed it. She didn't enjoy nights so much as you either had a very very quiet night or on a Friday/sat very busy night.
She had to deal with a lot of drug/alcohol users but also primary care type nursing along with rape kits etc.
She did her masters and became a prescriber.
She eventually left due to shift pattern and lack of weekends off.

No information or advice but I wanted to say that sounds like a really interesting post. I love that nursing is such a diverse career. Go for it.

Really rewarding, but shifts usually 12hrs
7 till 7
What do you want to know?

I worked as a prison podiatrist in a mens prison and really loved it. I didn't get any hassle.

Thx for all these replies! I applied, so waiting now to see if I get an interview. I guess what I want to know Outbutnotoutout is, what the day to day nitty gritty of the job involves. Is it a mix of Treatment Room/Phlebotomy/Forensics samples?? Not sure I'd like to encounter Rape victims at their most upset, eg. Although I guess there would be training. There is a Forensics course at a Uni near me mentioned on the application form. I read the Strategic Direction for HS in the Justice System paper before applying & I see that referring to appropriate community support/addictions networks appears to be a large part of the role. Or is it when you're on the ground? Is it like working in a GP surgery setting except inside a Prison? I think it's NHS managed & paid. It's a Band 7, but I'm not a prescriber, & there's a training requisite as part of the role. So it sounds progressive. Have you experience in this area Out? If so, would you recommend it?

So our nurse generally sees people for:

alcohol and drug withdrawal

If they have an injury, handcuffs or as recently when a member of the public tackled a guy to the ground and he bumped his head.

Headaches and general aches and pains

Assessing mental health, although we have a team specifically for that.

Heart pain

Pregnant women

Juveniles to make sure they are fit to detain

You won't deal with rape victims, but will take samples from rape/sexual assault offenders, penile swabs, public hair scrapings.

You will give medication that they have brought in, including methadone or subtext.

There is a doctor on call but the nurses are better

Thx!