Caitlin Crowley

Following my graduation in August 2022, I worked as a newly qualified nurse at HMP Parc Prison for 2.5 years. This role involved delivering healthcare in a challenging and unique environment, where I developed strong clinical decision-making skills, resilience, and the ability to manage complex patient needs within a secure setting.

• Managing patient health on a day to day basis
• Acting as primary emergency response to any and all types of incident.
• Issuing and control of routine and emergency medication inline with doctors prescriptions.
• Managing and supporting prisoners with substance misuse and detox
• Daily health screening and pain management clinics.
• managing self harm incidents
• escalating patient care when appropriate.
• liaising with emergency services outside of the Prison environment.
• Support and referral assessments of patients with complex mental health issues, and social care needs.
• Working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Managed time effectively to prioritize patient needs while adhering to strict schedules for medication administration, treatments, and documentation.

During the COVID pandemic, while I was still a student nurse, I was deployed within a training team to support the onboarding of new healthcare staff. My responsibilities included helping new employees become familiar with the healthcare setting and protocols specific to the pandemic.

I played an active role in teaching essential skills, including Basic Life Support (BLS), hand hygiene, infection control procedures, and the correct use of medical devices. This experience strengthened my ability to communicate clearly, educate others effectively, and work under pressure.

During my time as a student nurse, I worked as a healthcare assistant in two different healthcare trusts, between 2019 - 2022. This experience provided me with valuable, hands-on exposure to clinical settings and allowed me to develop a strong understanding of nursing care. It also helped me build confidence in communicating with patients and colleagues, manage time effectively, and become familiar with the daily responsibilities and challenges within healthcare environments.

• Monitor patient conditions including blood pressures, pulse and respiration rates and body weight.
• Assisting nurses in patient care and
• Ensure patients are comfortable
• Provide housekeeping and personal care including bed making, patient washes and dressing, assisting in using the restrooms.
• Serving meals and assisting with eating and drinking
• Providing emotional support
• Observed patient skin conditions and reported findings to registered nurse.
• Lifted patients using appropriate equipment in accordance with moving and handling policy.
• Assisted with patient hygiene, physical comfort, eating, and drinking, and mobility while observing and reporting specific changes.