Full Answer Section

Physical and emotional assessment findings:

• Physical: injuries consistent with abuse, such as bruises in unusual locations, multiple injuries of different ages, or injuries that are not explained by the caregiver
• Emotional: withdrawn behavior, fear of the caregiver, difficulty trusting adults, nightmares, flashbacks, or self-destructive behaviors

Cultural variations of health practices that can be misidentified as child abuse:

• Some cultures have traditional practices that may be misidentified as child abuse, such as ear piercing, circumcision, or scarification. It is important for nurses to be aware of these practices and to consult with a cultural expert if they are unsure whether a practice is considered abuse.

Reporting mechanism in the United States:

• Each state has its own reporting mechanism for suspected child abuse. In most states, nurses are required by law to report suspected child abuse to the child protective services agency.
• To report suspected child abuse in the United States, nurses can call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Nurse responsibilities related to the reporting of suspected child abuse:

• Nurses have a responsibility to report suspected child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
• When reporting suspected child abuse, nurses should be as specific as possible about the nature of the abuse, the child’s injuries, and the caregiver’s behavior.
• Nurses should also provide the authorities with the child’s name, date of birth, and address, as well as the caregiver’s name and contact information.

Factors that increase the vulnerability of a child for abuse:

• Domestic violence: Children who live in homes where domestic violence is occurring are at increased risk of being abused.
• Substance abuse: Children whose parents or caregivers are abusing drugs or alcohol are at increased risk of being abused.
• Mental illness: Children whose parents or caregivers have mental illnesses are at increased risk of being abused.
• Poverty: Children who live in poverty are at increased risk of being abused.
• Social isolation: Children who are socially isolated are at increased risk of being abused.

Example of a warning sign of child abuse in a preschool child:

A preschool child who is normally outgoing and friendly suddenly becomes withdrawn and fearful. She is afraid to go to school and she has nightmares at night. When asked what is wrong, she says that her father hurts her.

This is a warning sign of child abuse. The child’s behavior has changed suddenly, and she is afraid of her caregiver. This suggests that she is being abused at home.

Example of a cultural variation of a health practice that can be misidentified as child abuse:

In some cultures, it is customary to pierce the ears of babies or young children. However, this practice can be misidentified as child abuse if the piercing is done in an unsafe or unsanitary manner.

Nurses should be aware of this cultural practice and should consult with a cultural expert if they are unsure whether a piercing is considered abuse.

Example of a nurse responsibility related to the reporting of suspected child abuse:

If a nurse suspects that a preschool child is being abused, she must report her suspicions to the child protective services agency in her state.

When reporting the suspected abuse, the nurse should be as specific as possible about the nature of the abuse, the child’s injuries, and the caregiver’s behavior. She should also provide the authorities with the child’s name, date of birth, and address, as well as the caregiver’s name and contact information.

Conclusion

Child abuse is a serious problem that can have lasting negative consequences for the victims. Nurses have a responsibility to identify and report suspected child abuse. By doing so, they can help to protect children from further harm and ensure that they receive the help they need.