How do I become ... a prison staff nurse?

Why did you decide to do this role?

“Before I did my nurse training I worked as a senior support worker for people with learning disabilities, mental health and asylum seekers. I always liked working with people with complex needs and challenging behaviours in a challenging environment.”

What jobs and experiences have led you to your present job?

“Soon after I obtained my nursing qualification I manage to secure a job as a substance misuse nurse at St Anne Community services. I worked with patients with dual diagnoses; mental health/learning disabilities with drug and alcohol misuse.” 

What do you do in your day-to-day role?

“All nursing aspects that include assessing, planning implementing and evaluating individual’s health and well being needs (physical needs, social needs, psychological needs and spiritual needs) while serving their prison terms and after care. Support service user constantly throughout their journey from Admission to Discharge which can be in the form of transfers or completion of sentence.”

What is your favourite part of your job?

“Seeing a patient and not the crime the patient has commited.”

What is your least favourite part?

 “Limitation of what we can do to give holistic care to prisoners due to security reasons in secure environments.  Lack of continuity due to unplanned transfers of prisoner (patients) to other establishments.”

Juliet Dube trained and qualified as a learning disability nurse in 2006. She currently works within a primary healthcare team as a prison staff nurse in HMPWealstun.

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