Dealing with Knife Injuries

Many nurses are unaware of their rights and obligations concerning the reporting of knife enabled crime to the police. With reference to recent changes to guidance given to doctors by the General Medical Council, and in response to nurses concerns, this updated document explains some of the medico-legal, ethical and professional issues behind disclosing information and looks at the importance of the nursing role in several innovative schemes designed to tackle the problem of knife crime.

The RCN advocates that every hospital should have a policy on how to respond in a situation where a patient arrives with an injury that is likely to have been the result of a violent attack. This should be a first point of reference for any nurse in a hospital setting.

For further information, please email papa.ukintl.dept@rcn.org.uk