A practical nurse (PN) at an urgent care clinic is caring for a 4-year-old client who presents with suspicious, patterned bruising on their back and shoulders. The PN suspects non-accidental trauma. In what order should the PN perform the following actions? Arrange the actions from first to last.
- 1Ensure the client's immediate physical safety in the exam room.
- 2Ask the accompanying caregiver open-ended questions about how the injuries occurred.
- 3Notify the attending healthcare provider and charge nurse of the suspicious injury pattern.
- 4Document the objective physical findings and the caregiver's verbatim explanation in the medical record.
- 5File a formal report of suspected abuse with the state child protective services agency.
Answer
The correct sequence is: ensure immediate safety, collect data by asking the caregiver open-ended questions, notify the healthcare provider, document the objective findings, and finally file a formal mandated report.
When prioritizing care for a client with suspected abuse, the practical nurse must first ensure immediate physical safety. Once the client is safe, the nurse collects data by asking open-ended questions to determine if the history matches the injury. Next, the nurse notifies the healthcare provider to initiate interdisciplinary care and prevent an unsafe discharge. The nurse then thoroughly documents the objective findings and verbatim statements. Finally, as a mandated reporter, the nurse ensures a formal report is filed with the state child protective services agency in accordance with the law.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Mandated Reporting and Prioritization in Suspected Abuse