ACEs for Medicine, Nursing and healthcare students

Further information and resources for students training to work in healthcare settings, including medicine, dentistry, nursing and midwifery.

ACEs are of particular relevance to students in healthcare professions such as Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Midwifery and Mental Health Nursing. People who have experienced multiple ACEs are more likely to have physical health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. They are also more likely to seek help or to find aspects of healthcare interactions difficult. For example, they may find it difficult to trust healthcare professionals or may find that aspects of service provision trigger negative memories, including examination or personal care.

Find out more about how knowing about ACEs could be useful for your future career by exploring the resources box. Becoming trauma skilled (link to box 5) is your first step in becoming an Advocate for ACEs.

 

ACEs in Nursing: maintaining resilience

Advocates for ACEs event with Sue Francis, Nurse and educator, which took place in September 2022. Access the talk here.

Resources 

Career-specific web resources

Asking about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in General Practice

ACEs in midwifery

ACEs and maternal health

Career-specific articles

Bright, M.A., Alford, S.M., Hinojosa, M.S., Knapp, C., Fernandez‐Baca, D,E. (2015). Adverse childhood experiences and dental health in children and adolescents. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol., 43, 193‐ 199.

Crouch, E., Radcliff, E., Nelson, J., Strompolis, M., Martin, A. (2018). The experience of adverse childhood experiences and dental care in childhood. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol., 46(5), 442-448. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12389. 

Gilliver, C. (2018) Trauma-informed care in response to adverse childhood experiences. Nursing Times [online]; 114: 7, 46-49.

Larkin, W. & Cairns, P. (2020). Addressing adverse childhood experiences: implications for professional practice. British Journal of General Practice, 70 (693), 160-161.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X708929

Smith, M., Williamson, A.E., Walsh, D. et al. Is there a link between childhood adversity, attachment style and Scotland’s excess mortality? Evidence, challenges and potential research. BMC Public Health 16, 655 (2016). Is there a link between childhood adversity, attachment style and Scotland’s excess mortality? Evidence, challenges and potential research | BMC Public Health | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)

Williamson, A.E., McQueenie, R., Ellis, D.A., McConnachie, A., Wilson, P. (2020). General practice recording of adverse childhood experiences: a retrospective cohort study of GP records. BJGP Open.  1;4(1). General practice recording of adverse childhood experiences: a retrospective cohort study of GP records | BJGP Open

Videos

Nadine Harris I How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime

 

NHS Training resources

The NES National Trauma Training Programme Resources

Find out whay trauma is everyone's business

 NES National Trauma Training Programme

You can also access resources to help you develop knowledge and skills to supprot a 'Trauma-skilled' practice. You will need to register with TURAS Learn to access the first of these resources, but anyone with an email address, no matter what their location or role is, can register free of charge. 

Developing your trauma-skilled practice 

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