A pediatric nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child brought to the emergency department with a spiral fracture of the humerus. The caregivers state the child tripped and fell off a small tricycle. The nurse notes that the mechanism of injury is inconsistent with a simple fall and suspects non-accidental trauma. Which of the following is the priority legal action the nurse should take?
- Notify the designated state child protective agency about the suspected abuse.Cevap
- BWait for the radiological reports to confirm the abuse before notifying authorities.
- CDelegate an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to question the caregivers about the incident.
- DTell the caregivers, "Why did you let your child ride a tricycle without supervision?"
Cevap
Notify the designated state child protective agency about the suspected abuse.
Nurses are legally mandated reporters of suspected child abuse. When a child presents with an injury that is inconsistent with the caregivers' explanation (such as a spiral fracture resulting from a simple fall), the nurse's priority legal responsibility is to report the suspicion to the designated child protective services immediately to ensure the child's safety.
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Anahtar Kavram
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse