The professional development of the custodial health nurse (CHN) as a nursing specialty has been accepted internationally but, until now, has been mainly overlooked in Australia. This presentation will report the preliminary results of a workforce survey of CHNs in New South Wales, Australia, which determines the demographic profile and workplace experience of this nursing cohort. Future applications, locally and internationally, of the overall results will be discussed.

Educational Objectives

• Describe the role of custodial health nurses in Australia and elsewhere
• Discuss potential role-specific recruitment and retention practices for custodial health nurses
• Construct a positive image of custodial health care

Level: Intermediate