Nursing care in the acute hospital setting: Survivors of torture

Torture and human rights abuses are a global epidemic, occuring in the majority of world nations. Global population movement has seen an increase in applications for asylum and refugee status in Western nations; Ireland is no exception. Many of these applicants have been subjected to torture and abuse in their homeland resulting in a significant burden of mental health problems to include depression, psychological disturbances and/or posttraumatic stress syndrome (Health Service Executive, 2008). Specialists teams work with survivors of torture on these issues however many of the other illnesses they experience are similar to those of the general population and they will seek care and attention from acute healthcare facilities where they will be met by the general medical/surgical nurse. While those working in the mental health sector will play a primary role in the provision of care, a multidisciplinary approach is essential. Nurses working in the acute general setting have a role to play in providing culturally competent care, advocating for this group and directing them to specialist services to support them in rebuilding their lives. These nurses have a moral and ethical responsibility to provide the best possible care and attention to all their patients (International Council of Nurses, 2006). The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of torture on the survivor's life and the contribution of the general medical/surgical nurse in caring for these survivors in the acute hospital setting.