Doing what she loves: a rewarding career journey of a Senior Nurse in Prison Healthcare

Natalie shares her journey and how it helped her to make a true difference to people’s lives.

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Natalie shares her journey as a Senior Substance Misuse Nurse at HMP New and Hall, how that shaped her career and helped her make a true difference in people’s lives.

Where it all started

Practice Plus Group has provided me with some incredible opportunities. My career began at HMP Wakefield six years ago as a Band 5 Nurse. I was then promoted to a Band 6 Primary Care Nurse, and the company supported me in completing the RCGP Certificate in the Management of Drug Misuse Part 1 and 2- that’s how I became the Substance Misuse Lead at HMP New Hall, a female prison near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The training and progression opportunities within Practice Plus Group are fantastic, paving the way for development and progression for all employees.

What it’s like to work in a prison

Despite the occasionally challenging environment in which I work, I absolutely love my role and the team I work with. Something I consistently highlight about working in prisons is that despite not having access to our devices during working hours, our team’s morale and spirit is always cheerful and uplifting. The lack of distractions has really raised the standards of our teamwork and communication.

Making a difference to every life

Every patient you care for has ‘a unique story’. This is the most important lesson I’ve learned from my experience in substance misuse and prison environments. People often ask me how I can work with individuals in such environments. But honestly, the empathy and care we provide to these individuals are second to none. They often require more support than those in the community due to their history of trauma, past experiences, and ongoing personal challenges, such as domestic violence. It is important to note that, for some, being in prison is their “safe place.”

One of the primary highlights of prison nursing involves delivering care to individuals who are highly vulnerable, battling addiction to drugs and alcohol, and lacking stable housing. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), which includes doctors, mental health professionals, sexual health nurses, the Together Women project, housing associations, and community services, allows us to ensure that we are transforming a patient’s life before their release. The impact of our work and undeniably the most rewarding part of our roles is the positive change that we can bring to their lives.

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