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Question

Difficulty: EasyLegal Rights and Responsibilities

A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a 4-year-old child and observes multiple circular, healing burns on the child's back that resemble cigarette burns. The parent states the child accidentally bumped into a hot radiator. Which of the following is the priority legally required nursing action?

  1. Report the suspected child abuse to the designated child protective services agency.Answer
  2. B
    Wait for the healthcare provider to definitively confirm the abuse before making a report.
  3. C
    Instruct the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to privately question the child about the injuries.
  4. D
    Apply physical restraints to the child to ensure they safely remain in bed while the parents are interviewed.

Answer

The priority legally required nursing action is to report the suspected child abuse to the designated child protective services agency.
Nurses are mandated reporters under the law. When a nurse suspects child abuse based on physical findings (such as cigarette burns) and an inconsistent history provided by the parents, the nurse has a strict legal obligation to report this suspicion to the appropriate state agency or child protective services immediately to ensure the child's safety.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clinical findings and the parent's explanation.
The nurse identifies that circular burns resembling cigarette burns are inconsistent with the parent's story of accidentally bumping into a radiator.
Recognizing physical signs of potential abuse is the first step in identifying a vulnerable client at risk.
2
Determine the nurse's legal responsibility in this situation.
The nurse identifies the legal mandate to report suspected abuse.
Under the law, nurses are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse.
3
Select the most appropriate nursing action.
The nurse must report the suspicion to the appropriate authorities immediately.
Delaying the report, delegating the assessment, or applying unwarranted restraints violates legal, ethical, and professional nursing standards.

Key Concept

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse
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Topics

Legal Rights and Responsibilities

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