A cure for crime
Ms Kershberg says 75 per cent of assaults are not reported to the police, but victims will talk to nurses – and they are most receptive when they are being treated in the emergency department. ‘It is the best “teachable moment”,’ she says. ‘And we won’t be talking to just the victim – they usually turn up with ten to 12 friends, so we have an ideal opportunity to educate them all.’ Data collection in the emergency department has revealed that a quarter of violent crimes over the weekend are linked to alcohol consumption. ‘We are working closely with Barts’ alcohol liaison nurses and community services to offer support to people to help them cut down on their drinking,’ says Ms Kershberg.
An emergency nurse is working on the causes as well as the effects of violence, writes Oona Mashta
NATHAN CLARKE
Alice Kershberg aims to offer youngsters an alternative to crime
alternative but to join gangs who carry knives or guns.’ Each month, between 150 and 200 patients are treated at the emergency department following a crime such as gang violence or domestic abuse. A key part of Ms Kershberg’s new job is to organise the collection of anonymous information from patients. The data-collection form is based on one designed by an A&E department in Cardiff that had a problem with violent crime, with added input from the College of Emergency Medicine.
SUMMARY
As an emergency department sister in an inner-city hospital Alice Kershberg knows only too well the consequences of violent crime. In her new role as violence reduction nurse at the Royal London Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, she will be supporting local councils and the police to reduce violence in the community. Ultimately, it is hoped the initiative will result in fewer victims of crime attending the trust’s emergency department for treatment. ‘Many victims of violent crime we see here are as young as 15 to 17,’ says Ms Kershberg. ‘And sadly, when we are treating them for one life-threatening wound, sometimes we can see scars from previous attacks. It’s a waste of lives. They see no
Questions cover the location of the assault, the type of weapon used and whether the patient knew the assailant. Representatives of local councils and the police, who Ms Kershberg meets with once a month, analyse the data for patterns that might reveal common causes or areas of high crime. Health and social services then use the information to put in place services designed to offer local residents, and young people in particular, alternatives to drinking in excess and joining gangs.
Violence reduction nurse Alice Kershberg works in the emergency department at Royal London Hospital. As she treats patients attending for injuries from violent crimes, she educates them on high-risk behaviours such as alcohol abuse and gang membership. Ms Kershberg also collects data from victims that helps the police and local councils to target crime. Author Oona Mashta is a freelance journalist
Youth work
Specialist youth workers are also being placed in the department to advise 13 to 19-year-old victims and put them in touch with youth and sports centres, as an alternative to joining gangs. Data collection in other parts of the country has led to some simple crime-reducing solutions, says Ms Kershberg. ‘In Oxford, there was a significant problem with assaults involving sharp cut glass from drinking glasses at a pub. The council was able to stipulate that the pub had to use plastic beakers.’ The violence reduction post is funded by the Department of Health and the trust. Ms Kershberg spends half her time working as a clinician in A&E and the rest in her new role, which she says is hugely rewarding. ‘We need to be able to offer youngsters alternatives to a life of crime. If through my work I influence one person to turn their back on crime then it is worth it’ NS
NURSING :: vol uses 28 no 34 :: permission. 2014 23 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 14, 2015. For personal use april only. 23 No other without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ms Kershberg says 75 per cent of assaults are not reported to the police, but victims will talk to nurses – and they are most receptive when they are being treated in the emergency department. ‘It is the best “teachable moment”,’ she says. ‘And we won’t be talking to just the victim – they usually turn up with ten to 12 friends, so we have an ideal opportunity to educate them all.’ Data collection in the emergency department has revealed that a quarter of violent crimes over the weekend are linked to alcohol consumption. ‘We are working closely with Barts’ alcohol liaison nurses and community services to offer support to people to help them cut down on their drinking,’ says Ms Kershberg.
An emergency nurse is working on the causes as well as the effects of violence, writes Oona Mashta
NATHAN CLARKE
Alice Kershberg aims to offer youngsters an alternative to crime
alternative but to join gangs who carry knives or guns.’ Each month, between 150 and 200 patients are treated at the emergency department following a crime such as gang violence or domestic abuse. A key part of Ms Kershberg’s new job is to organise the collection of anonymous information from patients. The data-collection form is based on one designed by an A&E department in Cardiff that had a problem with violent crime, with added input from the College of Emergency Medicine.
SUMMARY
As an emergency department sister in an inner-city hospital Alice Kershberg knows only too well the consequences of violent crime. In her new role as violence reduction nurse at the Royal London Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, she will be supporting local councils and the police to reduce violence in the community. Ultimately, it is hoped the initiative will result in fewer victims of crime attending the trust’s emergency department for treatment. ‘Many victims of violent crime we see here are as young as 15 to 17,’ says Ms Kershberg. ‘And sadly, when we are treating them for one life-threatening wound, sometimes we can see scars from previous attacks. It’s a waste of lives. They see no
Questions cover the location of the assault, the type of weapon used and whether the patient knew the assailant. Representatives of local councils and the police, who Ms Kershberg meets with once a month, analyse the data for patterns that might reveal common causes or areas of high crime. Health and social services then use the information to put in place services designed to offer local residents, and young people in particular, alternatives to drinking in excess and joining gangs.
Violence reduction nurse Alice Kershberg works in the emergency department at Royal London Hospital. As she treats patients attending for injuries from violent crimes, she educates them on high-risk behaviours such as alcohol abuse and gang membership. Ms Kershberg also collects data from victims that helps the police and local councils to target crime. Author Oona Mashta is a freelance journalist
Youth work
Specialist youth workers are also being placed in the department to advise 13 to 19-year-old victims and put them in touch with youth and sports centres, as an alternative to joining gangs. Data collection in other parts of the country has led to some simple crime-reducing solutions, says Ms Kershberg. ‘In Oxford, there was a significant problem with assaults involving sharp cut glass from drinking glasses at a pub. The council was able to stipulate that the pub had to use plastic beakers.’ The violence reduction post is funded by the Department of Health and the trust. Ms Kershberg spends half her time working as a clinician in A&E and the rest in her new role, which she says is hugely rewarding. ‘We need to be able to offer youngsters alternatives to a life of crime. If through my work I influence one person to turn their back on crime then it is worth it’ NS
NURSING :: vol uses 28 no 34 :: permission. 2014 23 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 14, 2015. For personal use april only. 23 No other without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
