NRS 434 Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age—it can occur in the infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age years
NRS 434 Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age—it can occur in the infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age years
NRS 434 Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age—it can occur in the infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age years
There are numerous resources available to nurses to help them identify potential abuse, whether physical or emotional. When looking for signs of abuse or mistreatment in a child, the nurse should look for sudden changes in the child’s behavior or patterns. A decline in a child’s school performance, according to the Child Welfare Department, a federally funded and mandated agency (Child Welfare Department, 2019), is an indicator that interventions may be required. This could be due to a lack of concentration, as the child may withdraw as a result of their own assessment of the degree of safety in engaging and/or participating in contact with peers or authority figures outside of the home. Excessive absences may be attempts to allow time for the healing of physical abuse-related injuries such as abrasions, bruises, or fractures. Reluctance to return home after school may also be an indication of abuse.
Abuse extends beyond the physical realm. Emotional abuse has the same long-term effects on school-age children as physical abuse. School-aged children want to fit in with their peers, notice differences between themselves and other children, and may need assurance that abuse is not their fault (Falkner, 2018).
References
Gateway to Child Welfare Information (2019).
What exactly is child abuse and neglect?
Obtainable at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/whatiscan.pdf.
A. Falkner (2018). University of the Grand Canyon (E.D). Approach to Pediatric Health Care Assessment Based on Age. Obtainable at https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs434vn/health-assessment-foundations-for-effective-practice/v1.1/#/chapter/2.
MG
You have written an informative post, and I agree with you. Child abuse and maltreatment, in theory, have devastating effects on children (Gonzalez et al., 2021). As a result, any case of child abuse must be reported. Nurses are required to recognize signs and symptoms of child abuse or maltreatment and report them to the appropriate authorities. Failure to report may result in legal action or disciplinary action by their employers or the board of nursing. The first step for a nurse who suspects abuse or maltreatment is to notify the physician, nurse managers, or physician assistant. If the victim is brought to the facility along with the alleged perpetrator, the assessment should be conducted without the perpetrator present. To detect physical signs of abuse, a thorough head-to-toe examination should be performed. If at all possible, a witness should be present. Nurses should ensure thorough documentation and description of the findings, nonverbal behaviors, victim statements, and alleged perpetrator statements and behaviors. While the victim is still in the facility, law enforcement should be notified immediately. Furthermore, Child Protective Services should be contacted and a documented report submitted (Lee & Kim, 2018).
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Reactions to Latasha Brooks
Latasha,
I’d like to contribute to this excellent post. Nurses are a valuable resource in health care, and as such, they should be educated in all areas.
aspect of medical practice Nurses are supposed to be educated on how to recognize abuse in whatever form it may take. This is consistent with cultural beliefs and tradition. Some African native groups have a traditional practice in which coining can leave some purpura, which can mimic abuse. Nurses are expected to be familiar with these practices so that they do not contradict the patient’s beliefs. Nurses must be culturally competent in order to provide excellent care to their patients. Thank you for sharing again, Latasha.
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Reactions to Latasha Brooks
Child abuse and maltreatment can occur at any age, from infancy to the age of 18. According to the report, “nearly 3 in 4 children, or 300 million children, aged 2-4 years, regularly face physical punishment and/or psychological violence at the hands of parents and caregivers” (WHO).
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “babies less than one year old have the highest rate of child abuse, and 25% of victims are younger than three.” The most common reason for contacting Child Protective Services is neglect, followed by physical and sexual abuse.
Child abuse warning signs include withdrawal from friends or usual activities, depression, anxiety or unusual fears, hostility, or a sudden loss of confidence, which Nurses can detect through assessments.
Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect must be made to any police or sheriff’s department in California by mandated reporters. Nurses are required to report child abuse or suspected abuse to designated agencies.