Why I love my job as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP)

Reb tells us about his role as an ANP in a prison environment

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I qualified as a nurse in 1997 from Birmingham University and initially worked within the NHS in HIV/GU medicine. I was really keen to progress. But, in those days, there was not a clear pathway for nurses to progress into advanced practice roles and after a decade began to look at leaving nursing. I studied for an advanced practice qualification, then a post-graduate law degree and later graduated as a Physician Associate at the University of Warwick medical school. However, I never really felt I had found somewhere or something that was a good fit for me.

I was working as a lecturer St George’s, University of London in a medical school, when I saw the ANP in a prison job advertised HMP Stafford with Practice Plus Group. I knew immediately this would be a challenging role that I would really enjoy. I have worked as an ANP in a prison now for nearly three years and I love it! It is very challenging and working within a prison can be difficult at times for all sorts of reasons, but I can honestly say it is the best job I have ever had.

I get to make a significant difference to the lives of very disadvantaged people. And I’d like to say that the organisation I work for is very progressive in terms of patient care and staff development and I work with a really supportive team.

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