NET2019 - Seeing is believing: The effect of prison-based taster days on student nurses’ perceptions of undertaking practice placements within a prison healthcare environment

Recruiting nurses to work in prison is challenging and staff shortages have detrimental effects on prisoner well-being. One university and prison have developed taster days, held within the prison environment, with the aim of encouraging student nurses to undertake placements and subsequently take up employment within custodial settings. This paper reports on a qualitative study undertaken to explore students' experiences of the taster day. Findings demonstrated the particular elements of the taster day which were most impactful in challenging negative preconceptions and explain why the prison became "unexpectedly appealing" to students as a place to work.